Prasar Bharati has released its DD Metro tender document. It can be picked along with application forms along with general instructions/terms and conditions free of cost from the office of Directors, Doordarshan Kendras, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai from 30.5.2001 to 15.6.2001 between 11.00 AM to 1.00 PM.
Interested parties can download it by clicking here on DD Metro Tender Document or by going to the DD web site (http://www.ddindia.net).

Finally closing a deal which has been in the making since last October, Star and the Koos Group of Taiwan today announced an agreement to digitise cable systems in Taiwan.

Star‘s investment in the deal will enable it to obtain an equity interest in the cable systems concerned, a company release says.

The digital rollout plan will commence in the second half of the year and the first digital cable services will be launched in early 2002. Taiwanese cable subscribers will soon be able to enjoy through digital set-top boxes high-quality digital broadcast cable signals, as well as an array of enhanced television functionalities such as parental control and a Chinese-language electronic programme guide, the release states. The digital boxes are also capable of receiving interactive premium channels and e-commerce services.

Chester Koo of the Koos Group said: "The penetration rate of Taiwan‘s cable TV is among the highest the world over - 80 per cent of Taiwanese households have cable TV. ...This partnership between Koos Group and Star is also a manifestation of the recognition we have been receiving from international media groups."

Star chairman and CEO James Murdoch said: "In Asia where digital and addressable cable systems are so rare, this deal further sets Star and our partners ahead of other players in the market. Partnering with Koos is a perfect match for us to roll out digital cable infrastructure in Taiwan, paving the way for the first large-scale market launch of digital set-top boxes in Asia and the introduction of interactive services in Taiwan, clearly setting the pace for the development of the pay TV business in the region."

It was in October that the Koos group‘s broadband Internet access and content provider GigaMedia Ltd and Star agreed to form a joint venture that would focus on developing interactive television services in Taiwan.

At the time GigaMedia and Star signed a binding memorandum of understanding to form a 50-50 jointly owned company that would operate independently.

But at the end of March the agreement was modified where Star‘s investment was to be for the digitisation of headends and the rollout of digital set-top boxes.

Although both parties claimed they remained committed to developing the Taiwanese interactive television market, they said the priority was to upgrade and digitise the network infrastructure.

In money terms this meant that the original plan where GigaMedia was to have injected $ 50 million into the interactive television project stood shelved.

Barry Frey has been named senior vice-president, managing director, global advertising sales for Hallmark Channel, international edition of the Hallmark Channel, according to a company release.

The announcement was made by Andy Brilliant, executive vice president, sales and marketing and deputy CEO for Crown Media International, Inc. and Hallmark Channel. The appointment was effective May 1 and Frey will be based in New York, reporting directly to Brilliant.

"Barry is a results-oriented innovator whose knowledge and experience in the global television marketplace are invaluable," Brilliant commented. "His management and leadership skills will especially aid us during our continued expansion into new territories."

Frey will be responsible for all international advertising efforts worldwide and managing the company‘s advertising sales operation for Hallmark Channel. In addition to building the channel‘s client base in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, Frey will also focus on the development of new national sales opportunities within those regions.

Frey earlier served as senior vice-president global sales and marketing at SPACE.com. He has also had stints in senior positions with the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he headed the division that managed and marketed the integrated media properties for the NBA, WNBA and USA Basketball; USA Networks Inc. and MCA Broadcasting.

After a series of modifications, Indian multimedia production firm Pentamedia Graphics Ltd and US-based animation producer Film Roman Inc. have reached agreement on a deal that gives Pentamedia a 49.9 per cent stake in Film Roman valued at $10,000,000.

Under the new terms, Pentamedia will be issued one new share of Film Roman‘s common stock for each $1.17 in value it receives from Pentamedia. Upon completion of the transaction, Pentamedia will own up to 49.946% of Film Roman‘s common stock, with an overall valuation of up to $10,000,000. The specifics of the restructured transaction are being finalised by the two companies and any necessary approvals will be sought in the near future, the release states.

In a joint statement, V Chandrasekaran, CEO of Pentamedia and John Hyde, CEO of Film Roman said: "We have restructured the agreement between us and look forward to finalising the transaction so that we can start building on the strengths of our respective companies."

Early last month the whole deal seemed threatened with Film Roman filing a complaint with the US Securities & Exchange Commission claiming Pentamedia was unable to close the transaction on terms earlier agreed by both the firms and approved by Film Roman‘s shareholders.

As per the earlier agreement, Pentamedia was to acquire a fully diluted 60 per cent stake of Film Roman in the form of newly issued common stock for $15 million in cash.

It was in October last year that Pentamedia last year announced a deal with Film Roman which it said would help it get better access to the US markets.