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Month: March 2025

  • Trump-affiliated Samsung is looking for a US public affairs head

    Trump-affiliated Samsung is looking for a US public affairs head

    Samsung Electronics’ head of North American public affairs is expected to resign and it is looking for a successor with ties to U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and the Republican Party.

    Samsung is looking to replace the current person in the North American external relations role, Mark Lippert, who served as U.S. ambassador to South Korea during the Obama administration, and was hired by Samsung in 2022 while former President Joe Biden was in office, DongA Ilbo reported citing unnamed industry sources.

    A Samsung spokesperson said it does not comment on speculation, while Lippert did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comments. Reuters

  • In three months, Maharashtra will introduce a space technology strategy

    In three months, Maharashtra will introduce a space technology strategy

    Maharashtra will formulate a Space Tech Policy in the next three months, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday while asserting that the coming era belongs to advanced technologies.

    Speaking at the ‘Space-Tech for Good Governance’ conference here, the CM emphasized the transformative potential of space technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in governance.

    “The coming era belongs to these advanced technologies,” he said while hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for formulating policies that recognize the importance of space tech and integrating the private sector into its growth.

    “With over 189 space startups emerging in India, space technology is being utilized for applications like remote sensing, drone GPS, and transparency in governance initiatives. The Gatishakti platform has revolutionized infrastructure development. Projects that typically require years for completion are now being executed in significantly shorter timeframes due to space tech integration,” Fadnavis said.

    The gram panchayat development plan could benefit from geo-mapping, while space technology was deployed for water resource management in 20,000 villages in Maharashtra under the Jalyukt Shivar scheme, he said.

    “Maharashtra will soon formulate a dedicated Space Tech Policy within the next three months. This policy will aim to develop a startup ecosystem around space technology, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the sector,” the CM said.

    He also highlighted the importance of advanced technologies in disaster management and the health sector.

    The conference explored how cutting-edge space technologies such as satellite imagery and geospatial tools can address various governance challenges, particularly in rural India. PTI

  • MoUs signed at the IESA Vision Summit 2025 total ₹1.5 lakh crore

    MoUs signed at the IESA Vision Summit 2025 total ₹1.5 lakh crore

    Memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for projects worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore were signed during the 19th vision summit of the India Electronics & Semiconductor Association (IESA), held in Gandhinagar.

    IESA president Ashok Chandak told FE that increasing interest of global semiconductor companies towards India shows that the country is poised for a big leap, with the end goal being a “complete ownership of the semiconductor manufacturing system”.

    The MoUs signed are an addition to the existing five projects approved by the Indian Semiconductor Mission. “Within the next five-seven years, we will see more fabrication (fab) and outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) plants in the country,” Chandak said.

    He stressed the importance of strengthening India’s semiconductor manufacturing capacity – “OSAT plants are a good starting point for companies… These plants will cement one end of the value chain. Now, we must focus on developing a complete semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem, which could take another 10-20 years.”

    Big-ticket investments announced during the summit include an MoU with Jabil India to establish a silicon photonics manufacturing unit in Gujarat with a Rs 1,000-crore investment, a financial support agreement between ISM and Tata Electronics (TEPL) for a Rs 91,526-crore semiconductor fab unit in Dholera, an MoU between Taiwan Surface Mounting Technology and the Gujarat government for an electronics manufacturing service unit at an investment of Rs 500 crore, a Rs 10,000-crore MoU between NextGen, Hitachi and SolidLight for a compound fabrication and optoelectronics facility in Gujarat and a tripartite agreement between TEPL, Himax Technologies and Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation for a fabless semiconductor plant.

    “We have many companies investing in semiconductor R&D, it is our core strength. However, most companies venture towards design services, rather than taking complete ownership of producing a chip, due to financial, funding and time constraints. While India will continue to rely on semiconductor component imports for the next five-seven years, new agreements will facilitate our domestic production ambitions.” Financial Express

  • Is Pay-TV losing ground as Indians opt for OTT and free dish services?

    Is Pay-TV losing ground as Indians opt for OTT and free dish services?

    India’s pay-TV industry, which consists of cable and DTH services, is set to shrink by 1-3% in revenue for FY2026, as more viewers move away from traditional cable and DTH services in favour of over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms and free dish services, according to a forecast by rating agency ICRA. This ongoing shift is expected to impact the industry’s profit margins, with operating earnings likely to decline by 175-225 basis points year-on-year, settling at around 23-25% overall. The DTH segment is expected to fare better with margins of 33-35%, while multi-system operators (MSOs) may see lower profitability at 6-8%. However, leading players with strong financial backing are likely to maintain stability through continued access to capital and liquidity.

    Growth in premium content could offset subscriber losses
    Despite the decline in subscribers, the industry is expected to partially offset losses through an increase in average revenue per user (ARPU), estimated to grow by 1-3% annually. The adoption of bundled services that combine traditional TV with OTT platforms and broadband, as well as premium offerings such as HD, 4K, and live events, could support revenue generation. However, rising costs for acquiring premium content—such as sports broadcasting rights and international programming—along with ongoing investments in network maintenance, are expected to further squeeze profit margins.

    Why are consumers shifting to OTT?
    Ritu Goswami, sector head for Corporate Ratings, ICRA, highlights the growing appeal of streaming services, driven by the demand for personalised, on-demand content, ad-free experiences, and a variety of regional programming. The affordability of smartphones, widespread internet access, and the rise of smart TVs have further accelerated this transition. Regulatory changes, including pricing caps on TV channels and new rules on content packaging, have also played a role in reshaping consumer preferences.

    India remains the second-largest television market after China, with nearly 190 million TV households in 2024. While overall TV penetration is expected to grow, the industry is undergoing a structural shift. Wealthier urban consumers are increasingly switching to digital alternatives such as smart TVs and streaming services, while lower-income and rural households are gravitating toward free dish services.

    Despite its large subscriber base, India’s pay-TV industry lags behind markets like the U.S. and Europe, where ARPU is significantly higher due to a greater willingness to pay for premium content. In contrast, India’s highly price-sensitive audience has slowed the pace of “cord-cutting,” especially in rural areas where TV remains the primary source of entertainment. Factors such as affordability, hybrid service offerings, and internet infrastructure limitations will likely prevent a sharp decline in pay-TV subscriptions in the near future, according to ICRA. Financial Express

  • IPTV lawsuits filed by ACE are illegal

    IPTV lawsuits filed by ACE are illegal

    Anti-piracy coalition the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) has filed two separate federal lawsuits against individuals in California and Pennsylvania, each accused of operating illegal internet protocol television (IPTV) services.

    The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the world’s leading anti-piracy coalition, has filed two separate federal lawsuits today against individuals in California and Pennsylvania, each accused of operating illegal internet protocol television (IPTV) services.

    The first lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, targets Zachary DeBarr of Murrieta, California, the alleged operator of Outer Limits IPTV. The second lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, is against Brandon Weibley of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, who is alleged to have operated multiple illegal IPTV services, including Beast Mode Live, GreenWing Media, Viking Media, BTV, Shrugs, and Zing.

    The two unrelated lawsuits allege that DeBarr and Weibley’s services facilitate mass copyright infringement by offering unauthorized access to thousands of pirated television channels, movies, and television shows.

    “These lawsuits demonstrate ACE’s unwavering commitment to protecting the creative industry from digital piracy from coast to coast and around the world,” said Karyn Temple, Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel for the Motion Picture Association. “Illegal IPTV services not only harm creators and legitimate streaming platforms but also expose consumers to potential security and fraud risks. We will continue to take decisive legal action to shut down these operations and hold infringers accountable.” Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment

  • Market for gateways for broadband networks Huge scope and rising need globally till 2032

    Market for gateways for broadband networks Huge scope and rising need globally till 2032

    The global Broadband Network Gateway market was valued approximately USD 1.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach around USD 2.9 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5% during the forecast period.

    Broadband Network Gateway Market Overview
    Broadband Network Gateways (BNGs) are critical components in modern telecommunications infrastructure, serving as the point of convergence for user traffic, enabling efficient management and delivery of broadband services. The market’s growth is driven by the proliferation of internet-connected devices, the rise in remote work, and the increasing consumption of streaming media, all of which demand robust and scalable network solutions.

    Report Drivers & Trends Analysis:
    The report also discusses the factors driving and restraining market growth, as well as their specific impact on demand over the forecast period. Also highlighted in this report are growth factors, developments, trends, challenges, limitations, and growth opportunities. This section highlights emerging Broadband Network Gateway Market trends and changing dynamics. Furthermore, the study provides a forward-looking perspective on various factors that are expected to boost the market’s overall growth.

    Competitive Landscape Analysis:
    In any market research analysis, the main field is competition. This section of the report provides a competitive scenario and portfolio of the Broadband Network Gateway Market’s key players. Major and emerging market players are closely examined in terms of market share, gross margin, product portfolio, production, revenue, sales growth, and other significant factors. Furthermore, this information will assist players in studying critical strategies employed by market leaders in order to plan counter strategies to gain a competitive advantage in the market. openPR

  • Champions Trophy Final: India & New Zealand will compete for the the title after 25 years

    Champions Trophy Final: India & New Zealand will compete for the the title after 25 years

    India and New Zealand are set to clash in a major tournament final in white-ball cricket for the first time in 25 years. New Zealand secured their place in the Champions Trophy 2025 final with a dominant performance against South Africa in the second semi-final in Lahore on Wednesday. The Black Caps will now face familiar rivals India in the grand finale on Sunday in Dubai.

    India became the first team to book their spot in the final after defeating Australia by four wickets in Dubai on Tuesday. New Zealand, who lost their last Group A match against India, will now have the opportunity to avenge that defeat when they take on Rohit Sharma and his men at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

    India and New Zealand have met twice before in ICC tournament finals. The last time they faced each other in a title match was in the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final in Southampton, where a Kane Williamson-led New Zealand outclassed India by eight wickets in a rain-affected contest that stretched over six days.

    Interestingly, the last time these two teams played in a white-ball tournament final was in the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy in Nairobi. On that occasion, New Zealand defeated India by four wickets to secure their first ICC title.

    India vs New Zealand in ICC Tournament Finals

    • 2000 ICC Knockout Final – Winner: New Zealand
    • 2021 ICC World Test Championship Final: Winner New Zealand

    When Chris Cairns broke India’s heart
    India, led by Sourav Ganguly, posted 264/6 in 50 overs, with Ganguly scoring 117 and Sachin Tendulkar adding 69. India appeared poised for a bigger total, but the middle order, comprising Rahul Dravid, Vinod Kambli, and Yuvraj Singh, failed to capitalise.

    New Zealand, captained by Stephen Fleming, successfully chased the target, thanks to Chris Cairns’ unbeaten 102 off 113 balls. Cairns played a match-winning knock despite battling injuries.

    Since then, New Zealand have not won a global white-ball title in men’s cricket. They came close in the 2015 and 2019 World Cups but stumbled at the final hurdle.

    Will Sunday be their day? Can they trouble the mighty Indian team in Dubai?

    Just last week, India dismantled New Zealand, bowling them out for 205 and successfully defending a target of 249 in Dubai. Varun Chakravarthy took five wickets in his first match of the tournament as India’s spinners ran through New Zealand’s batting order. Shreyas Iyer starred with the bat, scoring 79 runs.

    However, New Zealand will take confidence from their inspired performance against South Africa, who were knocked out despite finishing top of Group B. Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson hit centuries in Lahore, while Mitchell Santner led a dominant display with the ball. Santner claimed three wickets, while Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips took two each to stifle South Africa’s chase with spin.

    Despite David Miller’s valiant 100, New Zealand secured a comfortable 50-run victory.

    It was another disappointing end to an otherwise impressive campaign for South Africa, as they bowed out following their first defeat of the tournament. IndiaToday

  • New Zealand qualifies for the CT25 final after defeat South Africa

    New Zealand qualifies for the CT25 final after defeat South Africa

    New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner led by example, taking three crucial wickets against South Africa to help his side to the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

    They will face India in Dubai on Sunday (starting at 9am GMT).

    It looked like South Africa might stage a challenge to New Zealand’s huge total of 362/6, with Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma forming a big-hitting hundred partnership for the second wicket.

    Then Santner got involved, removing both of them plus Heinrich Klaasen (caught by Matt Henry) to leave the Proteas with an uphill struggle.

    Despite David Miller’s best efforts, coming in at No 6 and top-scoring with 100, South Africa finished on 312/9 – meaning the Black Caps won by 50 runs.

    Henry had taken the first wicket of the innings, luring opener Ryan Rickelton to play to Michael Bracewell for 17.

    And Rachin Ravindra took the fifth with a sharp caught-and-bowled of Aiden Markram for 31 off 29 balls.

    Bracewell removed Wiaan Mulder and Glenn Phillips began to mop up the tail, trapping Marco Jansen lbw and then tempting Keshav Maharaj to edge behind to Tom Latham.

    He played a part in Kagiso Rabada’s dismissal too, catching him off a Henry ball in the 46th over, leaving South Africa with more than 100 required for the last wicket.

    Earlier, Ravindra had made a key contribution with the bat – making a century, as did Kane Williamson – as New Zealand set a big total of 362/6.

    Only twice in one-day international history has a total that big been successfully chased down in the second innings – and both times it was South Africa who did it.

    Ravindra fell for a well-played 108 off 101 balls – caught by Klaasen off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada – with Williamson making 102 off 94 before being caught by Lungi Ngidi off Mulder.

    Will Young had been the first wicket to fall, caught by Markram off Ngidi, leaving New Zealand on 48/1.

    But Ravindra and Williamson created an excellent partnership, brought to an end only in the 34th over.

    Latham managed only four before he was bowled by Rabada, and then Daryl Mitchell fell agonisingly short on 49 off 37 balls, with four fours and one six.

    Bracewell was out on the penultimate ball of the innings having made 16 off 12 deliveries.

    And Phillips missed out on taking the strike for the last ball of the innings, meaning he also missed out on a half-century, finishing with 49 off 27 balls – including six fours and a maximum.

    Captain Santner had the last word, with two scampered from that last delivery.

    The Proteas finished atop Group B, with two wins from three outings while their game against Australia was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

    New Zealand on the other hand were the second ranked side in Group A, with convincing wins over Pakistan and Bangladesh.

    Playing XI
    South Africa:     Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

    New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William ORourke. ICC-Cricket

  • TNT Sports and DAZN reach a deal for the US Club World Cup

    TNT Sports and DAZN reach a deal for the US Club World Cup

    DAZN, the global sports streaming platform, has today announced a multi-faceted partnership with media giant Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) in the United States covering soccer’s 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) club competition.

    Through a sub-licensing agreement, WBD’s TNT Sports, TBS, and truTV networks will televise 24 of the tournament’s 63 matches across the US.

    The collaboration will see the networks provide live coverage of action from the group stage, knockout stages, and the final.

    In addition, DAZN and TNT Sports will offer English-language studio programming plus additional ancillary programming throughout the tournament. TNT Sports’ Bleacher Report, House of Highlights, and B/R Football digital platforms will also produce and share content across their social channels.

    WBD and DAZN will additionally collaborate on cross-promotion, marketing, and advertising sales.

    DAZN secured exclusive global rights to the CWC – to be held in the US across June and July – last December, for around $1 billion.

    The TNT tie-up represents the second sub-licensing deal secured by the OTT giant for the CWC in the US, following an agreement with Spanish language media group TelevisaUnivision to show 18 matches across Univision, UniMás, and TUDN.

    Last month, meanwhile, an Egyptian sub-licensing deal for the tournament was agreed with MBC Group, the Saudi-owned FTA broadcaster.

    In late February, the Iris Sport Media agency secured distribution rights across sub-Saharan Africa for broadcast coverage of the tournament.

    The CWC, which kicks off on June 14 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, features the top 32 clubs in the world, playing 63 matches over 29 days.

    The competition will feature two US sides – Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami.

    Luis Silberwasser, chairman and CEO of TNT Sports, said: “Partnering with DAZN to present the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 further bolsters our sports portfolio this summer and brings another world-class event to our TNT Sports portfolio.

    “We’re looking forward to this new partnership with DAZN as we collectively deliver this exciting new global soccer club competition in the US this summer.”

    Shay Segev, CEO of DAZN Group, added: “With our new partners at Warner Brothers. Discovery, DAZN will enhance and expand production, marketing, and ad sales for the tournament, to maximize engagement and reach and ensure that fans receive the very best viewing experience.”

    Before DAZN stepped in, FIFA had struggled to secure a broadcast partner, with many traditional media giants unwilling to pick up the rights as the competition has proved extremely controversial with many of soccer’s major stakeholders.

    Clubs and players are unhappy about the extra games and workload, and a formal complaint and legal action by the players’ union FIFPRO was filed around this issue last year.

    The revamped CWC will feature a new format in which continental governing bodies, apart from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), receive multiple team slots.

    Europe’s UEFA, with 12, will have the most teams. The lineup will include Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, and Red Bull Salzburg. Sportcal

  • Fox Corp. & Grupo Pachuca are sued by Fox Sports Mexico for the Tubi transaction

    Fox Corp. & Grupo Pachuca are sued by Fox Sports Mexico for the Tubi transaction

    The Fox Sports Mexico (FSM) broadcaster has launched legal proceedings against a pair of sides from the country’s Liga MX soccer top flight over a media rights distribution dispute.

    Fox Sports Mexico, which is not owned by the Fox Corporation media giant but instead by Grupo Multimedia Lauman, holds the rights to the Liga MX home games of Club Leon, and Pachuca CF, two sides controlled by the Grupo Pachuca ownership group.

    In December 2024, however, it was announced Grupo Pachuca had come to an agreement with Fox Corporation to air Leon and Pachuca games for free on the Tubi streaming service.

    In addition to the lawsuits, filed against both Grupo Pachuca and Fox Corp, the judge ruling over the proceedings granted FSM’s request for an injunction barring Grupo Pachuca from providing Fox Corp and Tubi with broadcasts.

    Speaking on Fox Sport Mexico’s La Ultima Palabra show, the broadcaster’s external legal counsel Paulo Diez commented: “We consider [this] a very violent, arbitrary, and illegal attack by Fox Corporation, in collaboration with Grupo Pachuca.”

    He explained, of the logic behind the suit: “Since [rights contracts] are such important assets, they contain protection clauses, one of which was this right of preference established in the contracts with Grupo Pachuca that expired last year. These clauses obliged Grupo Pachuca to give Fox Sports Mexico this right of preference so that, under equal circumstances, it could keep the contracts if it matched the offer that Pachuca and León would have received …

    “It seems to me that there is very bad faith conduct on the part of the Pachuca Group and Fox Corporation, which has forced us to go to court to try to defend our rights.”

    Grupo Pachuca and Fox Corporation have yet to respond, at the time of writing

    In mid-2024 it was reported that Fox Corporation had received assent to proceed with a takeover of Fox Sports Mexico, however, that never advanced.

    Then, in December it was rumored that Grupo Pachuca could be set to explore the sale of Club Leon in order to comply with ownership rules put in place by global soccer governing body FIFA.

    Both Pachuca and Leon are set to compete in the upcoming revamped FIFA Club World Cup, despite soccer’s global governing body FIFA having said in November that teams owned by the same owner will not be allowed to compete in the tournament, which led to Costa Rican side Alajuelense lodging a complaint about the Grupo Pachuca clubs’ inclusion.

    Martinez said he is confident both teams will be allowed to compete, and that FIFA will take the pending sale into account. Sportcal