MUMBAI: Asian pay-TV association Casbaa has congratulated Australian police for a dramatic raid on a pirate TV syndicate operating in Australia via high-capacity Internet servers based in China.

The raid on the B&L LED Sign company in Hurstville, in the suburbs of Sydney, signaled the latest stage in a long term campaign to track down the promoters and users of Internet-based networks distributing illegal TV signals in Australia. Based on the cash raked in by the Hurstville operation, police estimated that 150 million Australian Dollars could have been effectively stolen from the legitimate TV distribution industry by multinational criminal gangs.

Casbaa CEO Simon Twiston Davies said, "This time the primary victim was TVB Australia, and the Hurstville police have done a great job to get this far. And so has TVB Australia, which brought the initial information to them."

TVB, based in Hong Kong, creates and sells Chinese-language TV programming, distributing its programming in Australia through a satellite-based pay-TV service, TVB Australia. The piracy network was stealing and reselling TV signals from TVB as well as a host of other international pay-TV channels, in English as well as Chinese.

Other channels distributed included high-value TV networks such as CNN, ESPN, MTV, Discovery, National Geographic, HBO, Fox and the BBC, alongside a library of Video on Demand shows and movies not yet released on legal DVDs -- all streamed from China directly to the user‘s TV set.

Police said they will file charges that carry heavy fines and potential maximum jail terms of five years. They will also interview homeowners who have received the stolen programming, some of whom may face charges themselves.

Increases in broadband penetration throughout Asia are making it easier for criminals to steal TV programming they do not own, and to re-sell to others. Too often, consumers sign up as accomplices in the theft. "Australia has strong laws to protect copyrighted broadcasts including holding end-users responsible for the consumption of stolen signals" said Davies

Casbaa held up the Hurstville raid as evidence that Australia is committed to enforcing its laws, and that policing there is effective. "We wish that other governments in this region would demonstrate the same commitment as Australia to preventing misuse of the Internet for TV piracy The problem is only going to grow, if other governments don‘t get serious" added Davies.

MUMBAI: US broadcaster 3net, the JV 3D network from Sony, Discovery and IMax has kicked off the show Fields of Valor: The Civil War. The broadcaster says that this is the world?s first native 3D war documentary.

The four-part 3net original miniseries will transport viewers back in time, retelling the war?s most pivotal moments both on and off the battlefields from the unique perspective of both sides of the historic conflict. The series utilises carefully selected stereoscopic stills from the period - recently released by the Library of Congress - and shown for the first time ever to television audiences in their native 3D format.

In addition the show features a cast of thousands for the penultimate battle scenes, unique "tableau form" style 3D recreations and 3D graphic effects to bring to vivid life the men of the 20th Massachusetts and the 1st Virginia as they leave their homes and loved ones, prepare for ensuing battle and plunge headlong into the history?s most brutal domestic conflict. Intimate accounts of the brave men on the front lines are told through paralleling stories from each side of the war, giving audiences a unique insight into the beliefs, struggles and passions of those involved from both the North and South.

3net president, CEO Tom Cosgrove said, "Recent advancements in 3D production have allowed us to get much ?closer? to this period in our history and offer a uniquely personal and immersive telling of the conflict that simply wasn?t possible before.

"By capturing the soldiers and battles of this historic war in native 3D, and showcasing perfectly preserved stereoscopic stills from the period, we?ve been able to bring a level of humanity and realism to the project unlike anything television audiences have experienced with previous Civil War documentaries. As well, we?re excited to broaden the audience for Fields Of Valor: The Civil War with the 2D premiere on our sister networks Velocity and Military Channel."

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has announced the appointment of Martyn Freeman as its general counsel, a new role with responsibility across all legal and business affairs, policy and regulatory matters, including the negotiation of transactions and joint ventures, rights and deals management, crisis management, compliance, risk management and talent accounting.

Freeman will report to BBC Worldwide CEO John Smith and will be a member of BBC Worldwide?s Executive Board. He will take up his position on 21 November.

He has been in charge of BBC Worldwide?s Legal and Business Affairs since 2002, as group head and then director. In these roles, he worked on the creation of partnerships such as BBC Books and 2 entertain, the divestments of BBC Magazines and BBC Audiobooks, the re-structuring of joint ventures with Discovery, and has had overall responsibility for rights acquisition and management.

More recently he has also led on raising financing and negotiating deals for BBC Worldwide?s slate of natural history feature films.

Previous to this position, he has worked in a variety of roles across the BBC, including as Head of Business Affairs, Radio and Music, Factual and Learning and News.

Freeman said, ?I am delighted to become the first general counsel for BBC Worldwide. It gives me the chance to build on nearly a decade?s work at BBC Worldwide as well as taking on some fascinating new challenges as BBC Worldwide continues to develop as a truly global media company.?

MUMBAI: US non fiction media company Discovery Communications has announced that its COO Peter Liguori has decided to depart the company at the end of the year.

Liguori was responsible for launching numerous creative and brand marketing initiatives around the world, including overseeing the successful launches of Discovery‘s joint ventures in The Hub, Own and 3net. 

Discovery president, CEO David Zaslav said, "Pete‘s leadership, enthusiasm and creative vision have brought a fresh and important perspective to Discovery. Around the world, our programming, marketing and promotional efforts have greatly benefited from his energy, experience and creative eye. I am particularly grateful to Pete for tackling some pretty challenging special assignments, including the launches of our joint venture networks - The Hub, Own and 3net. Pete is just a terrific guy and talented executive, and I want to thank him for the many significant contributions he has made at all levels of Discovery Communications."

MUMBAI: What makes high heels a cultural icon? Why does the little black dress resonate in our culture? And what are the little known facts behind the evolution of the bikini?

Love/Lust takes everyday items of desire, and deconstructs them to unpack the historical, social and pop culture events that made these the icons they are today. The show kicks off on 7 November and will air every Monday at 8 pm on lifestyle channel TLC.

Each one-hour episode will unravel the origin and evolution of various fashion items that we love and lust. Blending visual elements with the perspectives of professional commentators and public personalities, the show will aim to deliver an account of how life?s cultural innovations progressed from novelty to ubiquity.

Discovery India VP marketing Rajiv Bakshi said, "Presenting an entire gamut of lifestyle programming from travel, cuisine to fashion, TLC is India?s ultimate lifestyle destination. Love/Lust is an in-depth analysis of iconic elements of fashion with in a fascinating narrative."

The show stitches up the story of the little black dress, revealing how a series of events helped transform an emblem of rebellion into a wardrobe warhorse. The story punctuated with the commentary of numerous fashion insiders, including designer Vera Wang; author and Barneys New York creative ambassador Simon Doonan; and fashion historian Valerie Steele, the director and chief curator of the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

Subsequent episodes of Love/Lust will continue the inquiry with episodes devoted to the bikini, high heels and make-up.

MUMBAI: US non fiction media company Discovery has reported an 18 per cent jump in the revenues for its third quarter, ended 30 September, 2011.

The company?s revenues surged to $1.09 billion while adjusted Operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) increased by 15 per cent to $479 million.

Net income from continuing operations increased to $238 million. Discovery also repurchased 9.8 million shares at an average price of $36.30 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $355 million.

Discovery president and CEO David Zaslav said, "The strength of Discovery?s brands and the value of our content to consumers, distributors and advertisers alike were further demonstrated in our third quarter financial results. The appeal of our programming allowed us to continue to take advantage of the sustained health of the global ad market and further leverage existing and emerging distribution platforms worldwide.

"The breadth of our global distribution enables us to capitalise on the increasing penetration of traditional distribution models, while the diversity and appeal of our content allows us to strategically leverage evolving delivery methods. We remain focused on generating sustained financial results while thoughtfully investing in our brands and platforms so that we can take advantage of new and existing distribution opportunities around the globe."

Third jump in revenues by $169 million was led by 19 per cent growth at US Networks and 19 per cent growth at international networks. OIBDA growth was driven by a nine per cent increase at US Networks and a 20 per cent increase at international networks. The domestic results benefitted from significant additional licensing revenues under an extended and expanded licensing agreement.

Third quarter net income from continuing operations, available to Discovery stockholders of $238 million, increased by $77 million compared to $161 million in the year ago period. The current quarter results reflect the strong operating performance partially offset by higher taxes, the company clarified.

Free cash flow was $314 million for the third quarter, a decrease of $32 million from the third quarter of 2010, as the increased operating performance was more than offset by higher long-term incentive compensation and tax payments, as well as lower working capital.