DTH probability by TRAI

TRAI is planning to introduce DTH inter comparability and probability for Indian DTH viewers. On the lines of mobile portability, to stimulate the sector's growth, chairman J S Sarma said. "Entry price in DTH is coming down on its own. Growth will now be a function of quality and pricing. Portability in DTH may reduce entry barriers for users," Sarma said in an interview

Subscribers in the country currently have to pay for installation each time they switch their DTH service provider. DTH service providers could be accused on two counts. One is that they have 'blocked' their set top boxes, preventing the set top box supplied by one service provider from being used to access the services of the other.
Currently, service providers are using two technology platforms -- MPEG2 and MPEG4 -- for offering their services, allowing them to extend the argument that equipment of one will thus not be compatible with the service of the other. "All these are issues that will be looked into. DTH will do well if service providers can offer more than cable operators," Sarma said.

Airtel Digital TV launches pay for 10months for year

Airtel Digital TV is increasing its number of annual packages, offering discounted rates to keep its subscribers locked long term. The DTH service provider will add eight annual packages, complementing its current Super Value offer of Rs 2600. Says Bharti Telemedia vice president-marketing Sugato Banerji, "Annual packages are increasingly popular with our DTH customers as they see the benefits of price protection for a full year with the added convenience of just a one time recharge. Customers will be able to enjoy 12 months of viewing while making payment for only 10 months." "Apart from consumer benefits, the annual packages will not only bring us assured revenues for a span of 12 months, but will also help in improving our operational efficiencies," Bannerji adds. The annual packages for the new DTH customers are at three different price points - Rs 3450, Rs 4350 and Rs 5450. These will include the installation cost along with 12 months' subscription.

For existing customers, the new packages are at five different price points - Rs 1088, Rs 1265, Rs 1850, Rs 2750 and Rs 3850.

While the Super Value Pack (Rs 1088) will include Sony, Star and NDTV channels, the Economy Pack (Rs 1850) will also include the other GECs like Zee and Colors along with WorldSpace Radio.

Mega Pack (Rs 2750) will include sports channels ESPN and Star Sports. Also in the bouqet will be HBO, MGM, Cartoon Network, Discovery, Travel & Living and Pogo.

The Ultra Pack (Rs 3850) will also include Star Cricket, Zee Sports, Ten Sports, Neo Sports, and other language channels.

"Our subscriber base is nearly one million and our ARPU is in line with the market range," Banerji avers.

7th Player in DTH Videocon entry on June 10 from Punjab. Free DTH for ever TV.

The household name in the Indian industry Videocon promises to launch its DTH by June 10. To capitalize the growing trend of the DTH market, Videocon has chalked out its plan to offer the TVs with the built-in Set-top-box, @ prices starting from Rs8000. The company foresees the current sale of 2 million TVs a year to increase further with the set-top-box being the highlight. Videocon is improving technologically with an offer of satellite DVD, to receive satellite signals and the price will be in the range of Rs4000 in addition to a home theater model; further consumers will feel elated with the exclusive STBs brought out by Videocon at Rs2000.

Videocon’s target area to begin with will be the entire northern region- from Punjab and will move southwards especially Kerala before the Onam and the Karnataka by Dusserah. Videocon stands apart in the DTH industry with its TVs and the company has already earmarked Rs10 billion for the next two year period and is gearing up to face the stiff competition from other popular DTH operators – Dish TV, Big TV, Digtial TV and Sun Direct.