iWorld
DMB operator TU Media Corp starts mobile TV service trial
MUMBAI: Watching television on mobile phones through satellite while travelling in a car or a train. That is what Korean digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) operator TU Media Corp is looking to achieve. It has started a trial mobile television service through satellite. Samsung Electronics made a related statement saying that it will launch the first DMB mobile phone in Korea.
Media reports state that the advantage of DMB is its versatility. Through a DMB service, viewers can watch video clips and listen to radio programmes transmitted via satellite to mobile phones, PDAs, or car monitors.
TU Media is trying out nine out of a total of 35 DMB channels. There are three video channels – YTN news, CJ Media??s M-net, and a drama channel. There are also six audio channels playing the latest Korean pop, US pop, Korean oldies, American oldies, chart toppers, and Jazz & World.
The company issued a staement saying that during the test run, it will make sure that the machines and system operate smoothly, and find out the most common places and time periods for customers to use the service. In accordance with Korea Broadcasting Commission regulations and policies, TU Media will roll out the full-scale service in May.
Customers of SK Telecom which claims to be Korea’s largest mobile operator, can access the television services after purchasing Samsung.’s new SCH-B100 mobile phone. This features a 2.2-inch liquid-crystal display and a battery capable of providing more than two hours of viewing time.
The challenge that TU Media will face is that its satellite-based mobile television services is a concept being done for the first time. So there are no past experiences to learn from.
For its commercial service, TU Media plans to provide 14 video and 24 audio channels with a data channel scheduled for release next year. The company has completed building its central broadcast center and installed 4,800 gap-fillers across Korea last year. Reports indicate that it plans to invest 705 $667 million over the next five years to develop mobile content and expand programme production facilities.
iWorld
Banijay Asia’s The 50 tops OTT charts with 8.1 million JioHotstar views
Reality competition becomes most watched show on JioHotstar in debut week.
MUMBAI: Fifty contestants walked into a palace, but millions of viewers showed up for the drama. Reality competition The 50, produced by Banijay Asia, has emerged as the most watched show on JioHotstar, clocking 8.1 million views in its debut week. The figure, reported by Ormax Media, places the show at the top of the OTT viewership charts and marks a strong opening for the digital reality format.
Adapted from a popular French format, The 50 brings together 50 personalities from television, digital platforms, music and reality shows inside a grand palace setting. Over the course of a 50 day competition, participants form alliances, compete in unpredictable tasks and navigate eliminations as the field steadily narrows.
Guiding the game is a mysterious figure known as The Lion, an unseen game master whose voice introduces twists, challenges and strategic turns throughout the show, adding an extra layer of suspense to the contest.
What distinguishes The 50 from typical reality competitions is its audience driven prize structure. Instead of the winner taking home the final reward, the prize is awarded to one of the winner’s registered followers through the show’s dedicated app. The mechanism effectively turns viewers into participants, allowing fans to have a direct stake in the outcome.
The contestant lineup features a mix of television actors, reality stars and digital creators, including Karan Patel, Urvashi Dholakia, Divya Agarwal, Mr Faisu and Dushyant Kukreja, each bringing their own fan following to the show.
With its blend of celebrity personalities, strategic gameplay and interactive viewer participation, The 50 has quickly carved out a strong foothold in India’s digital entertainment landscape. Its 8.1 million views in the opening week underline the growing appetite for large scale reality formats designed specifically for OTT audiences.
