With the launch of Insat 4A, providers of direct-to-home (DTH) satellite services are planning to offer scores of value-adds to garner a bigger share of the rapidly growing subscriber base.The newest communication satellite Insat 4A with 12 KU band transponders is all set to stoke the competition by providing technical base for the new service providers.Dish TV, India’s first DTH satellite service from the house of Zee Network, is already offering movie-on-demand services and is also planning to provide digital video recorder services. “Besides new value-added services, we are also planning to increase the number of channels to 200 by the year end from 135 currently,” said Sunil Khanna, head of Dish TV.
DD Direct Plus, another KU band broadcaster, is planning to increase the number of free-to-air channels from 33 currently to 52 by May. It has already entered into an agreement with Mirc Electronics to launch DTH-enabled televisions with in-built set top boxes under the Igo brand.To compete with the existing players such as Dish TV and DD Direct Plus, new service providers such as Tata Sky, Sun TV and Jain TV, who are expected to launch their services by the year-end, are trying more innovations.Jain Studios Ltd, the latest entrant in the DTH club, is planning to provide internet services via television. “Initially, we will offer 30-50 channels with host of video-on-demand services. We will also provide information-based services such as distance learning, information on trade, stock market, travel, finance and legal issues,” said Ankur Jain, managing editor, Jain Studios Ltd.
Tata Sky, the joint venture between Tata and Star, the Indian subsidiary of international DTH service provider Newscorp, is planning to bring interactive services in a big way. Foxtel, BSkyB and Sky Italia, are other leading DTH ventures of News Corp in Australia, UK and Italy, respectively.“Tata Sky will offer all major channels. It will also introduce many advanced interactive applications from various Newscorp platforms in other countries to the Indian market. Large investments are being made to customise these applications for the Indian audience,” said Vikram Kaushik, CEO, Tata Sky Ltd.In a scenario where cable service providers will not be able to offer more than 70 channels although the number of channels is set to increase from 150 currently to 200 by the year-end, the subscriber base for DTH services is bound to rise.
DTH subscriber base for paid services is all set to touch 4 million by March 2007 from the estimated 1 million for March 2006.The subscriber base of free-to-air services of DD Direct Plus is expected to grow from 1.6 million in February 2005 to around 4 million by February-end this year.Sun Network is yet another player which has received the government’s nod to provide DTH services in the country. Anil Ambani group is also said to be planning a foray into the DTH business.
PS: Am sick and tired of the local cable guy and am seriously thinking of taking Dish TV!
Source: DNA
DD Direct Plus, another KU band broadcaster, is planning to increase the number of free-to-air channels from 33 currently to 52 by May. It has already entered into an agreement with Mirc Electronics to launch DTH-enabled televisions with in-built set top boxes under the Igo brand.To compete with the existing players such as Dish TV and DD Direct Plus, new service providers such as Tata Sky, Sun TV and Jain TV, who are expected to launch their services by the year-end, are trying more innovations.Jain Studios Ltd, the latest entrant in the DTH club, is planning to provide internet services via television. “Initially, we will offer 30-50 channels with host of video-on-demand services. We will also provide information-based services such as distance learning, information on trade, stock market, travel, finance and legal issues,” said Ankur Jain, managing editor, Jain Studios Ltd.
Tata Sky, the joint venture between Tata and Star, the Indian subsidiary of international DTH service provider Newscorp, is planning to bring interactive services in a big way. Foxtel, BSkyB and Sky Italia, are other leading DTH ventures of News Corp in Australia, UK and Italy, respectively.“Tata Sky will offer all major channels. It will also introduce many advanced interactive applications from various Newscorp platforms in other countries to the Indian market. Large investments are being made to customise these applications for the Indian audience,” said Vikram Kaushik, CEO, Tata Sky Ltd.In a scenario where cable service providers will not be able to offer more than 70 channels although the number of channels is set to increase from 150 currently to 200 by the year-end, the subscriber base for DTH services is bound to rise.
DTH subscriber base for paid services is all set to touch 4 million by March 2007 from the estimated 1 million for March 2006.The subscriber base of free-to-air services of DD Direct Plus is expected to grow from 1.6 million in February 2005 to around 4 million by February-end this year.Sun Network is yet another player which has received the government’s nod to provide DTH services in the country. Anil Ambani group is also said to be planning a foray into the DTH business.
PS: Am sick and tired of the local cable guy and am seriously thinking of taking Dish TV!
Source: DNA
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