Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts

Thursday, April 18, 2013

BBC Worldwide to offer first-run TV to Australia through Foxtel in mid-2014

BBC Worldwide and Foxtel forge new partnership to build the BBC brand in Australia

New channel to make Foxtel the home of BBC TV in Australia

In a significant new multi-platform deal, BBC Worldwide is to launch a premium BBC channel on Foxtel, offering premiere British drama and comedy, ad-break free and as close to UK transmission as possible.

This is an important step in the BBC's global strategy to build its brand in markets outside the UK. The Foxtel platform offers an ideal opportunity for the BBC to create a direct relationship with Australian audiences.

Launching as part of the Foxtel Drama & Lifestyle package in mid 2014, the channel will feature quality first-run programming from the BBC and other great British producers, which will not be available on terrestrial television for at least 12 months.

One title already confirmed for the launch is the spectacular 10-part drama series, The Musketeers. Adrian Hodges' fresh and contemporary take on Alexandre Dumas' characters from his much-loved novel has a stellar cast including Luke Pasqualino as D'Artagnan, the three Musketeers Tom Burke, Santiago Cabrera and Howard Charles, as well as Peter Capaldi.

The deal will also see the four existing BBC channels – UKTV, BBC Knowledge, CBeebies and BBC World News – continuing on the Foxtel platform, celebrating British content and creativity.

All five channels will be available on Foxtel GO and the premiere channel will be available in high definition, alongside UKTV and BBC Knowledge. Extensive BBC content will be available on demand at no extra charge and subscribers to the channels will be able to go back in time using the Foxtel EPG to watch or record programs they have missed.

In addition, the deal offers Foxtel a first-look at all BBC Worldwide Lifestyle programming. This content will also be available on Foxtel Go and on demand and using the EPG catch up functionality.

Jon Penn, Managing Director, BBC Worldwide Australasia said: 'This deal represents a strategic opportunity for BBC Worldwide to further expand our opportunities to showcase outstanding British creativity in Australia. We have a strong relationship with Foxtel and their viewers through our existing four channels, and were delighted to be given the chance to launch a premium channel that could offer the best BBC and British premiere television shortly after UK transmission. We are confident that we will also continue to have productive relationships with our other valued partners in the FTA, STV and digital markets.'

Foxtel CEO, Richard Freudenstein said, 'The BBC is one of the great television brands; its content, across so many genres, is loved and admired by millions of viewers all over the world. By strengthening our relationship with the BBC we will greatly enhance the viewing experience we offer our subscribers, with even more high quality content that can only be seen on the Foxtel platform and which we show as soon as possible after its original broadcast. Plus we offer the superior quality of high definition and the fantastic convenience of Foxtel Go.

'I want to congratulate BBC Worldwide on this initiative that will greatly enhance their presence in the Australian market.'

BBC Worldwide Channels on Foxtel:

New BBC premium channel – this will feature premiere British drama and comedy, fast-tracked and uninterrupted, from mid 2014.

UKTV – featuring UK hits, including drama, entertainment and soaps..

BBC Knowledge – documentaries with credibility and character.

CBeebies – TV that's good for your children - educational, entertaining, safe and advertising free.

BBC World News – trusted and impartial 24-hour international news coverage.


Source

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Google Play Music spreads to Australia, New Zealand and five European nations

Google Play Music comes to Australia


Google has been on something of a tear spreading its Google Play media services around the world; don't look now, but it's picking up the pace. The search giant is expanding Google Play Music today to cover Australia, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Portugal. That small deluge of new countries can now shop for their favorite tunes as well as store up to 20,000 of them online for streaming, either on the web or on Android devices. Large swaths of the world remain uncovered by the service -- ahem, Canada -- but we'll still welcome a big step toward cloud music for everyone.

[Thanks, Chris]


Source: Google Play (Google+)


More Coverage: Google Australia, Google New Zealand

Monday, April 8, 2013

Vodafone launching 4G services in Australia from June

Vodafone launching 4G services in Australia from June


In the race to bring 4G services to Australia, Vodafone's been the sweaty kid with the stitch for far too long. Fortunately, the puppy fat seems to be shedding, as the company has announced it'll finally launch its own LTE in June. The bulk of the network will center around Sydney and Perth, while citizens of Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Newcastle, Wollongong and the Gold Coast can expect "some coverage" for the time being. The company hasn't said what it'll do in the way of charging for the new services, but if you're already a Vodafone customer with an LTE-capable handset, then those devices will be activated alongside the national rollout. Hooroo!


Source

Friday, March 22, 2013

Apple, Microsoft and Adobe give reasons for higher prices in Australia, can't guarantee you'll like them

Apple, Microsoft and Adobe give reasons for higher prices in Australia, can't guarantee you'll like them


Talk about ants in their pants. After giving regulators the runaround and repeatedly dodging the question of why they charge Australians so much more than Americans for the same products, senior executives from Apple, Microsoft and Adobe have finally been forced to sit down in front from a parliamentary committee. They weren't always especially helpful, mind you, but they did at least offer some justification as to why, on average, their products cost 50 percent more in that country. Read on for a quick rundown of who said what.


[Image credit: Delimiter]


Microsoft's Pip Marlow:

Refused to comment on a particular instance of Australians being charged $4136 for a software package in Australia but only $2324 in the US Implied, according to The Australian, that prices are set according to local competition. Said, "Our customers will vote with their wallets"

Adobe's Paul Robson:

Explained that Australians were forced to buy from Adobe's local website, which charges up to 167 percent more, so that they could get a "personalized" service Highlighted higher running costs, salaries and the need for investment in Australian sales channels as some of the reasons for higher prices

Apple's Tony King:

Argued that some Apple products were similarly priced in the US and Australia Admitted that there were serious price disparities on iTunes, but blamed them on copyright holders who still operate according to "old-fashioned notions of country borders or territories or markets"

The Australian press isn't overwhelmed with any of the responses, and it's certainly true that all three corporate execs put on a steely front, offering no hope of price reductions. As we've already seen though, pressure applied in the right places can produce all sorts of sudden cracks.


Source: Reuters, Herald Sun, The Australian, ZDNet

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

MasterCard announces MasterPass digital banking service, gives Australia and Canada first dibs

MasterCard Delivers on the Promise of a Digital Future

February 25, 2013

Australia announced as the first market to deliver MasterCard MasterPass Digital Wallet

Sydney, 25 February 2013 – MasterCard today unveiled MasterPassTM – the future of digital payments – and announced Australia as the first to launch the ground-breaking digital wallet technology in March 2013.
MasterPass brings together all of the ways consumers pay for things, from traditional plastic cards to digital wallets, and gives them the ability to make a payment from wherever they are with one simple experience.

Partners already working with MasterCard on MasterPass include Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, NAB, ME Bank, JB Hi-Fi, AHL, Harvey Norman, Roses Only, Merchant Warrior and Paycorp.

With a simple click, tap or touch – online, in-store or anywhere – using any payment card or enabled device, MasterPass gives Australians access to a range of cards in their digital wallet with one button. MasterPass is the evolution of PayPass Wallet Services announced in May of last year.
Leading the transition to digital payments, MasterPass speeds up the online checkout process. Users can choose to pay from a list of pre-stored cards and shipping addresses kept securely in the digital wallet, removing the need to manually enter payment details as is necessary with most existing online payment systems.

"It's about convenience, accessibility and security," said Eddie Grobler, MasterCard Australasia divisional president.

"Australian consumers want to embrace mobile payments, and MasterPass is a crucial step in the evolution from plastic cards to digital wallets.
"With MasterPass, consumers can safely do their grocery shopping on the train on the way home from work, or make a last minute gift purchase on their lunch break, without the need to re-enter card and shipping details."

Partners already signed up are excited about the opportunity this creates for their own business.
In a first for Australian banking, Westpac customers will be able to checkout seamlessly on their mobile phone, ensuring a faster and more convenient shopping experience," said David Lindberg, Chief Product Officer, Westpac. "Westpac is proud to support ideas that make our customers' lives that little bit easier."

The MasterPass suite of services includes:
MasterPass checkout services – to provide merchants a consistent way to accept electronic payments regardless of where the consumer may be. For in-store scenarios either at the register or in the aisle, MasterPass supports the use of NFC, QR codes, tags, mobile devices used at points of sale or traditional plastic cards. For online purchases, MasterPass provides shoppers a simple check-out process by eliminating the need to enter detailed shipping and card information with every purchase.

MasterPass-connected wallets – to enable banks, merchants and partners to offer their own wallets. Consumers can securely store card information, address books and more in a secure cloud, hosted by an entity they trust. The wallet is open, which means that in addition to MasterCard cards, consumers can use other branded credit, debit and prepaid cards.
MasterPass value added services – to enrich the shopping experience before, during and after checkout. This includes more information like account balances and real-time alerts, loyalty programs, as well as Priceless offers and experiences.
Merchants and Financial Institutions Embrace MasterPass

Since the introduction of PayPass Wallet Services in May of 2012, merchants and financial institutions worldwide continue to support MasterCard and its digital payments strategy. With today's announcement, merchants, issuers and supporting partners working with MasterCard to support the launch of MasterPass include:

Financial institutions: BBVA Bank, BMO, BNLPOSitivity, BNL Italy, BNP Paribas Fortis Belgium, Banco Sabadell, Banco Santander, Banca Sella, Citi, Commonwealth Bank, Deutsche Bank Italy, EMS, EnterCard, EURO 6000, European Merchant Services, Fifth Third Bank, Handelsbanken, International Card Services Netherlands, Intesa Sanpaolo, Lake Trust Credit Union, ME Bank, NAB, SEB Kort, SIA, Swedbank, TMG Financial Services, UniCredit and Westpac.

Merchants: AHL, American Airlines, Argos, Boots, Grocery Gateway, Harvey Norman, Hikingboots.com, JB Hi-Fi, LogiTRAVEL, Mediamarket Spa Italy, MLB Advanced Media, Park Avenue Coffee, Roses Only Group, Runningshoes.com, Vodafone Italy and Wintercheck Factory. In addition to these merchants, through our work with service providers and payment gateways worldwide, MasterPass will be available at more than 5,900 merchants.

Technology partners: Adyen, Buckaroo, CQR, Cardinal Commerce, Cart32, CO-OP Financial Services, DataCash, Demandware, ICBA Bancard inc., Merchant Warrior, mFoundry, Moneris, OPENTECH.com, Paycorp Holdings, PSCU, Reply, Sage Pay, SIA, The Members Group, Usablenet and VeriFone Systems, Inc.

Supporting Partner Quotes
"In a first for Australian banking, Westpac customers will be able to checkout seamlessly on their mobile phone, ensuring a faster and more convenient shopping experience. Westpac is proud to support ideas that make our customers' lives that little bit easier." David Lindberg, Chief Product Officer, Westpac

"Commonwealth Bank is committed to delivering the world's most advanced technology and solutions to our customers. The payments space is a great example for this. Introducing our customers to the convenience, safety and efficiency of MasterPass is therefore the right step for us. Australians are tech savvy, so whether it is via computer, tablet or mobile, they will be able to enjoy the benefits of MasterPass on whatever device they are using." Dr Michael Baumann, General Manager Payments Development, Commonwealth Bank

"NAB is continually looking for ways to improve, extend and enhance our cardholders' experience, whether they are paying in-store or online. MasterPass provides a simple and secure way for Australians to use their digital devices, including computers, tablets and mobiles, to enable payments and NAB is pleased to take part in this industry innovation." David Berry, GM Cards & Personal Loans, NAB
"We are very pleased to be working with MasterCard on the MasterPass wallet and keen to confirm how our customers perceive this simple and convenient service, which helps people buy goods and services over the internet. We believe this new financial service will only increase in relevance as more people buy online." Tom Bekiaris, Group Executive, Product & Strategy, ME Bank
"As Australia's leading technology and entertainment retailer it's vital we play a role in shaping the future of digital transactions. MasterPass represents a genuine step change for Australian retailing. By empowering our customers with a safe, efficient, innovative payment solution we're able to ensure every JB Hi-Fi experience online is a satisfying one." Richard Murray, CFO, JB Hi-Fi
"At Harvey Norman we seamlessly integrate the customer experience across all channels and being able to access different payment platforms is integral to this experience. MasterPass will enable us to continue to provide our customers with a secure and efficient payments experience, with added convenience when making their online purchases."Chris Mentis, Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary, Harvey Norman

"After building an outstanding strategic alliance with MasterCard's PayPass through our market-leading brands including Event Cinemas and Thredbo, we are excited about opportunities associated with the next generation of technology including MasterPass. Most customers begin their journey with us in the digital space, by booking and buying cinema and travel experiences online and on mobile. Innovation that supports this is a huge focus for our business going forward." Kristie Atkins, Director of Sales, AHL
"Digital payments represent the lifeblood of our business, so pioneering MasterPass is a key step in giving our customers the freedom to buy whenever they like, wherever they like. As Australia's leading online florist and gift retailer our customers demand an efficient payment process – that's exactly what MasterPass provides." James Stevens, CEO, Roses Only Group
"At Merchant Warrior we are committed to Innovation, Security and Leading edge technologies that empower merchants to offer flexible online payment solutions. We are proud to be one of Australia's premier payment gateways participating in the launch and implementation of MasterCard's MasterPass. We envision this partnership, through MasterPass, to be a step forward in the evolution of Next Generation Digital Payment solutions and are excited to play a part in shaping the future of Payments." Rakesh Pathak, Founder & CEO, Merchant Warrior
"As a leading provider of e-commerce payments solutions and innovation Paycorp are thrilled to partner MasterCard in offering MasterPass to our customers. We are impressed by the wallet's design allowing payment instruments and delivery addresses to be easily added or selected to complete the order checkout process. Our merchants will be surprised at how simple it is to integrate MasterPass to their existing e-commerce or m-commerce interfaces all within a highly secure environment. The open nature of the wallet allows a variety of payment instruments to be loaded, this truly is an online replacement for the physical wallet." John Caliguri, Managing Director, Paycorp Holdings
Find a complete list of MasterCard's news announcements from Mobile World Congress in our Digital Press Kit and follow us @MasterCardNews #MWCashless #MAMobileSymp to join the conversation.


Source

Friday, December 21, 2012

Hey Australia, Is the World Over Yet?

This story will display in ...Dec 20, 2012 2:56 PM  

Hey Australia, Is the World Over Yet?I'm writing these lines on December 20, 2:54PM. In Australia, it's December 21, 6:54AM. If you are in Australia, please reply in the comments promptly. We want to know if the world is over yet there or not. Also, if you have spotted any Nibirus, please tell us at once. Thank you.


View the original article here

 

© 2013 PC Tech World. All rights resevered. Designed by Templateism

Back To Top