Apple launches TV app, video gaming service and credit card

International News

Apple on Monday launched streaming and videogame services, looking to tap into 1.4 billion users of its gadgets to counter slowing demand for its iPhones. At a special event held at the Steve Jobs Theater at its Cupertino, California headquarters, the company also unveiled News Plus subscription service and a credit card.
Apple Card
Credit card to be approved in minutes and to be used with Apple Pay
No international fee, no penalties and no sign-up fee
Goldman Sachs to be issuing bank for the card and MasterCard to manage payment processing
Apple Pay to be available in more than 40 countries by end of the year
Apple Arcade
Television

• Apple unveils 'all New' TV app

• App to include streaming services Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and PlayStation Vue
• Will feature shows from HBO, Showtime and Starz in Apple TV channels
• Users can buy or rent movies on Apple TV
• Apple TV app will be available as a software update in May, including Apple TV channels
• Apple TV app will be available on Macs as well as televisions from Sony, LG, and Vizio, and devices from Roku and Amazon FireTV
• Apple TV app to be available in more than 100 countries

Gaming
Launches Apple Arcade service with game developers
Apple Arcade to work on mobile devices, desktop computers, and televisions

 Apple working with Walt Disney, SEGA Games and Annapurna Interactive on new games.

Star India standalone profit after tax dips 44% in FY18 on higher expenses

Star India Logo

Companies News:

Star India’s standalone profit after tax was down 44 per cent in FY18 as expenses increased at a faster pace while revenue growth was sluggish. According to the company’s filings with the Registrar of Companies, Star India's revenue for FY18 rose 5.8 per cent to Rs 9,199 crore as against Rs 8,698 crore in FY17. The company’s net profit slumped from Rs 1,155 crore in FY17 to Rs 642 crore in FY18, a 44 per cent decline.

Data provided by financial data accessed by business intelligence platform Tofler indicates that the company’s total expenditure for the year grew 18.6 per cent to Rs 8,242 crore. In September 2017, Star India won the global media rights to the Indian Premier League for Rs 16,347.50 crore for five years (2018-2022).

Sources reveal that the Uday Shankar-led network’s payout to the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI), included Rs 4,300 crore in the first year of the deal, while the remaining amount is to be equally divided over the rest four years. Sources said a part of the payout would have been accounted in FY18 financials, though the details are not available. This would account for the steep increase in Star India’s expenditure for the fiscal under consideration.

Other expenses, which accounted for 87 per cent of the total expenses, went up 20 per cent year-on-year to Rs 7,182.5 crore in FY18. Queries to Star India went unanswered.


 Star India hosted the first IPL season on its network from April 2018, and the revenues for the same will be reflected in the FY19 numbers. Industry estimates peg Star India’s revenue from IPL 2018 at Rs 2,000 crore.

Isro set to launch communication satellite GSAT-31 on February 6

Current Affairs:

The Indian Space Research Organisation is all set to launch its 40th communication satellite GSAT-31 on Wednesday from the spaceport in French Guiana.

The satellite with a mission life of 15 years will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites and augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in Geostationary Orbit, the space agency said.

In a statement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said the satellite, weighing about 2,535 kg, is scheduled for launch onboard the Ariane-5 (VA247) from Kourou in French Guiana.
"The satellite GSAT-31 is configured on ISRO's enhanced I-2K Bus, utilising the maximum bus capabilities of this type. The satellite derives its heritage from ISROs earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series. The satellite provides Indian mainland and island coverage," the agency said.


 ISRO also said the GSAT-31 will be used for supporting VSAT networks, television uplinks, digital satellite news gathering, DTH television services, cellular back haul connectivity and many such applications...Read More