MUMBAI: Asian telecommunications company and provider of internet television services in India, VSNL (Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd.) has partnered with Marshall Media, Inc., to provide high-definition (HD) American infotainment to Indian broadband customers, using a video-on-demand digital streaming system.
A member of the multi-billion-dollar Tata Group, VSNL currently caters to a subscriber base of 500,000 broadband and Internet users. Their widespread clientele includes major hospitals, multi-national corporations and Indian government offices. Earlier this year, VSNL’s broadband services brand — Tata Indicom — launched both video-on-demand and pay-per-view, further leveraging their content throughout India.
Marshall Media, a Glendale, Calif.-based media technology company, will supply VSNL with video-on-demand programming in high-definition, ranging from infotainment to comedy shows. This content will be available via Windows Media Player for Internet streaming.
Marshall Media’s digital media division, vice president, Gary Kaufmansaid, “This is a great opportunity for both companies. VSNL has access to an enormous audience, and we are in a position to deliver the relevant, high-quality video product to serve it.”
Infotainment shows will include Marshall Media’s self-produced series, Road to the American Dream, in which prominent U.S. lawyers are interviewed and discuss compelling social topics, such as immigration. In addition, other programs currently in development are healthcare seminars featuring industry-leading professionals, which will focus on pressing public issues like breast cancer awareness and pollution, as well as a series on healthier living. Each episode has a running time of 30 minutes and is being produced as a part of an informational series for VSNL’s audience.
Going forward, Marshall Media also plans to offer VSNL and its broadband users live HD broadcasting for various types of events, with the help of VSNL’s INMARSAT satellite communications services.
