Dish/Airtel/Tata Sky/Big Tv

Started by sajiv, Sep 05, 2008, 10:47 AM

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sajiv


CHENNAI: Sun TV has alleged that Royal Cable Vision (RCV) was carrying out a "systematic false campaign" against the network, saying it was refusing to provide its signals to RCV.

In a statement here on Wednesday, the network said it had never refused signals to multi system operators (MSO). The RCV's charge that the network had refused digital feed to Arasu Cable TV Corporation was not true. On the other hand, it was negotiating with officials of the Arasu Cable TV for giving its digital feed. The network alleged that RCV was beaming its signals in Madurai illegally for which the network had filed a case against the RCV.

:acumen

sajiv


sajiv


ICICI customers can now access from DishTV

DishTV customers can now access information on ICICI Bank products and services on their TV screens. Essel Group's direct-to-home service provider, DishTV announced the launch of 'ICICIACTIVE", an interactive banking service on Tuesday, Oct 7. This initiative comes on the heels of DishTV"s strategic tie-up with matrimonial site Shaadi.com in July this year.

The ICICIACTIVE will include information on EMI amount on various loans, eligibility criteria, documentation, and time required for processing a request, ICICI Bank"s ATM and branch locators, etc. Information related to these products and services would be shown along with a toll free customer service number that viewers can call and apply or seek further information on a product of their choice. It will allow potential customers to be pre-informed of the services, which will lead to faster processing and delivery.

Speaking on the association, Salil Kapoor, COO, DishTV, said, "We are extremely pleased to join hands with ICICI Bank to bring another first to the market – banking information on TV – for our 3.94 million subscribers across the country. With such innovative services, DishTV is now taking TV viewing to a whole new level of viewer engagement. We look forward to such innovations with like-minded corporates."

Maninder Juneja, Head - Retail Liabilities, ICICI Bank, said, "Currently, there are around 7.0 million active digital TV viewers and the numbers are expected to grow further. The association with DishTV will enable us to further extend our reach and offer latest information to customers. Based on the readily available details, customers can plan their financial needs accordingly."

:acumen

dwarakesh

Rumours against ICICI

Coimbatore: The Race Course Police have registered a case against a few unknown persons for sending SMS and posting messages on the internet/e-mail raising suspicion on the credibility of a private bank.

Jayachandran Nair, Regional Manager of ICICI Bank, Coimbatore, preferred a complaint stating that malicious rumours regarding the financial worthiness of the bank were being spread through SMS.

The police have registered the case under Sections 505 (i) (c) making statements, rumours, reports conducing to public life; and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 36 (A) (D) (1) (c) of the Banking Regulation Act of 1942.

sajiv

Two new value packs from Dish TV

Mumbai : Dishtv, pioneer and leader of DTH business in India announced two value enhanced packs for its subscribers designed to address all consumer segments and create more entertainment options at all price points.

The value packs include a bare Set Top Box for Rs 1,490, along with which the consumer has a choice to select from multiple packs ranging from Rs 99 per month to Rs 275 per month, for any number of months, that he chooses or a Combo Pack for Rs 2,090 (value packed with a new Set Top Box bundled with the highest Platinum Pack for 3 months), offering 165 channels and services, a release said here.

For both the offers, an installation charge of Rs 200 is payable extra, the release added.


sajiv

New packages from Dish TV

New Delhi: Zee group-promoted DTH platform Dish TV on Saturday announced new value-enhanced packages for its subscribers.

In the new offerings, the DTH market leader has given options of two packages, said the company in a release. In the first option, new customers can buy Set-top Boxes (STBs) for Rs.1,490 and get a choice to select multiple packs, ranging from Rs.99 to Rs.275 per month.

In the second plan, Dish TV is offering a combo pack of Rs.2,090, in which customers can get STB, along with its platinum pack for three months offering 165 channels. However, the customers would have to pay Rs.200 extra towards installation, the company said.

Besides, Dish TV also announced four-tiered packages -- Silver, Gold, Diamond and Platinum -- aiming to provide entertainment options at every price level. These packages are priced at Rs.111, Rs.180, Rs.247 and Rs.309 and would respectively show 110, 125, 140 and 165 channels, the company said.


sajiv

Airtel, Asklaila kick off free search on mobile, DTH

NEW DELHI: Looking for that Thai restaurant or a school address in the city? Try Asklaila.com on your Airtel mobile. India's largest mobile operator Airtel on Wednesday announced a partnership with local search engine Asklaila.com. With this free service, about 21-mn Airtel subscribers in six cities will be able to search via mobile, DTH or internet (on Airtellive.com) across 400 different categories.

"It's a consumer service whereby Asklaila.com has mapped local business listings in six cities—Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore. We will be expanding our local search to 13 cities by 2008-end," says Bharti Airtel CMO Sanjay Gupta. It offers another service for subscribers. If you want to save those mobile call bills while dialling a pizza outlet or a shop, you can make them toll free. With a free call feature available on all paid local listings, the advertiser will pay for the local call.

The local search for most categories will also be available on Airtel DTH service. An interactive menu (developed by Infosys) shows the options for various categories on the TV screen which has an Airtel DTH service. For mobile phones, Airtel is offering the service through SMS or by USSD (unstructured supplementary service data) SMS service.

In an USSD SMS session there is no store-and-forward capability, but response times for USSD-services are quicker. A SMS to *321# from any mobile generates an interactive local search menu.

Incidentally, Airtel already has a partnership with Google for local search. Says Google India MD Shailesh Rao: "We are in the process of mapping Indian cities and making our local search presence robust. To get customers hooked on, we have already started a free interactive voice-based call centre." Google India has started toll free local search for Hyderabad whereby anyone can call and find information about a local restaurant, inquire about airline or railway schedule.

While Google is banking on its capability to replicate its successful local search model in the US, in India local companies with large local database like Asklaila might acquire strong capability. "We have raised about $12 million and invested about 7-8 months in building a database for each city with a large manpower on the ground, doing a double check on each listing. In India, about 20-30% of all web searches happening are local in nature," Asklaila co-founder Kiran Konduri said.

The revenue model for local search, according to Airtel, will be twofold. One from listings—paid listings will be sprinkled with stardust on the screen. The other model is through each lead conversion—Airtel-Asklaila will charge the advertiser a fixed fee per lead generated through local search. "Each call by a Airtel subscriber via Asklaila.com will be played to the advertiser with a three-second clip saying this lead is brought to you by Asklaila.com," adds Mr Konduri.

The number of total web searches per month in India is estimated to be about 1 billion, and 20-30% of these are local in nature, i.e., 200-300 million searches per month. In comparison, local search as a percentage of web search is about 60% in the US, as per Comscore.



sajiv

Big TV to increase number of channels

Coimbatore: Big TV Home Entertainment service from Reliance Communications is gearing up to increase the bouquet of 200 channels to 400 channels in the coming few months. A release from Big TV said that it had ordered for additional capacity on MEASAT Satellite constellation and by increasing the satellite transponder capacity from the current eight to 12, a 50 per cent addition, the company would be able to double the number of channels.

sajiv

Arasu Cable TV Corporation in for long haul

"We want transparency in our dealings"

CHENNAI: Arasu Cable TV Corporation is in for the long haul and will not be closed down, said C. Umashankar, its Managing Director, on Friday.

Talking to newsmen, he said: "It is a State-owned corporation that was started to provide quality feed throughout the State at affordable rate. I was asked by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to work hard and provide cable services in every nook and corner of the State."

Mr. Umashankar said plans had been chalked out to increase the number of subscribers from one lakh to 50 lakh in 12 months' time. It might take close to six months to cover the entire State. Plans are afoot to add 4 lakh subscribers each in Coimbatore and Tirunelveli districts in a month's time.

"The Local Cable Operators (LCOs) will be taken into our fold only when they agree to declare 100 per cent of the subscribers list. However, we have our own check-list. We want transparency in all our dealings and would not give room for tax evasion. We will introduce hand-held devices for issue of receipt towards collection of monthly subscription. It would be quite a revolution," he said.

It is proposed to commence Arasu Cable TV operations in Chennai by January 14, with the help of digital head end in Vellore district. Besides, District Collectors have been asked to spell out the road map for laying optic fibre cable that could be used for transmitting data as well as voice.

"So far, we have spent Rs.60 crore. Another Rs.100 crore is required for laying optic fibre cable to increase the penetration. We are also planning to provide set top boxes to all subscribers at a cost of Rs.1,500 per unit. This set top box will be different from the existing ones and will allow the subscribers to get digital feeds from any multi-system operator. While local cable operators have agreed to this proposal, we will seek subscribers' opinion soon," he said.

In Chennai, it is proposed to broadcast 80 channels, of which 28 will be pay channels. Along with the monthly subscription of Rs.80, subscribers have to pay another Rs.25 as set top box rental.

To a question, Mr. Umashankar said Arasu Cable would neither share its infrastructure with its rivals nor work with them as they were in the same business. "Though we can provide some minor assistance to them, we are not going to share the infrastructure," he added.


sajiv

BIG TV touches one million subscriber mark

NEW DELHI: Reliance Communications DTH services subsidiary, Big TV, has claimed to have touched the one-million subscriber mark within 90 days of its launch, capturing a 15 per cent market share. "Our customer-centric approach coupled with advanced technology, superior product and service has helped BIG TV cross the million milestone in such a short span of time," Reliance Communications President Mahesh Prasad said in a statement here.

dwarakesh

BIG TV Makes it to Mt. Everest

Reliance Communications sets up smoothly functioning DTH connections for its BIG TV in the hilly and inaccessible areas across northern India.

Reliance Communications has set up BIG TV connection at "Dropadi ka Danda" in the premises of the Base Camp of the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), situated at 15,317 ft above sea level in the Mt. Everest.

A team of 24 members started the trek on Nov. 26th from Uttarkashi and reached the base camp braving -3 degrees temperatures and snowstorms and snowfalls to reach the base camp on Nov. 30th, the company says.

BIG TV has set up a 300-member installation team across North India. The team has been given specialized training to tackle hilly terrains and inaccessible areas and set up smoothly-functioning DTH connections, says the company.

Now that's taking extreme measures to provide DTH services in a BIG way.

dwarakesh

Dish TV offers new movie 'Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye' on movie-on-demand services

Dish TV announced the premiere of  'Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye' on its movie-on-demand services within 3.5 weeks of the movie's theatrical release.

Salil Kapoor, COO, dishtv said, "The Premier of "Oye lucky, Lucky Oye" on Dishtv will enable our 4.6 million subscribers to enjoy the latest and best of movies in the comfort of their home. Dishtv is a market leader in providing premium content to its subscribers, we are the only DTH platform to broadcast Bollywood & Hollywood blockbuster movies like Taare Zameen Par, Jab We Met, Spider Man 3, Pirates of Caribbean etc. At Dishtv, we are always innovating and exploring new opportunities to bring wholesome entertainment to the masses."

sajiv

Tata Sky reaches three million milestone

Mumbai :
Direct to Home (DTC) satellite pay-TV services provider Tata Sky has achieved a major milestone of achieving three million subscribers within a period of just 27 months.

Announcing this today, Tata Sky MD and CEO Vikram Kaushik said, the achievement validated that TataSky is the most preferred service provider in the highly competitive Indian pay-TV market.

According to NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, the latest one million subscribers were gained in just seven months by Tata Sky.

''The end-to-end digital solutions from NDS, coupled with our unparalleled customer service and continuous product innovations, have enabled us to provide differentiated applications and a superior viewing experience for our subscribers'' Mr Kaushik added.

The platform is protected and powered by an end-to-end suite of NDS solutions including VideoGuard conditional access system (CAS), MediaHighway middleware, an advanced electronic programme guide (EPG), as well as the XTVTM DVR and additional NDS interactive infrastructure.

Powered by NDS, Tata Sky's interactive services include Active Star News, with interactive news and weather updates and a range of popular multi-level games. Together, these NDS solutions enable Tata Sky to deliver advanced services that are the basis for a viewing experience that is unsurpassed in the rapidly expanding pay-TV market in India.

Tata Sky launched its DTH ervice in August 2006 with the goal of reaching one million connections by the end of their first year of operation. After achieving that goal, it took only another 10 months to reach the two million connections mark and just seven months to reach the three million connections milestone.

NDS, CAS and DRM technology protects over 95.4 million digital devices, including over 14.5 million DVRs, around the globe, making NDS the global leader.

Middleware from NDS has been deployed in over 98.7 million devices. NDS facilities in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore all play a role in supporting Tata Sky.


sajiv

Sun TV bouquet for Arasu Cable

CHENNAI: Channel Plus, which offers Sun TV bouquet, has agreed to share its signal with Arasu Cable TV Corporation for re-telecast, said Arasu Cable Managing Director C. Umashankar on Wednesday.

In a press release, Mr. Umashankar said "At the recent hearing before TDSAT, senior counsel representing Channel Plus Ramji Srinivasan declared that there was going to be out-of-court settlement between Channel Plus and Cable TV Corporation for sharing of Sun TV bouquet with Arasu Cable. I thank the Sun TV management for deciding to share the signals through an out-of-court settlement."

dwarakesh

Viewers flock to Tata Sky

Direct-to-Home satellite pay-TV services provider Tata Sky has achieved a major milestone, adding three million subscribers within a period of just 27 months. CEO Vikram Kaushik said that this proved Tata Sky is the preferred service provider in the highly competitive Indian pay-TV market.

NDS, a leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, used its XTV DVR solution for Tata Sky plus. This provides customers with full Personal Video Recorded (PVR) functionality. They claim it is a true breakthrough in the Indian pay-TV market. NDS says XTV DVR is the reason Tata Sky added over one million new subscribers in only seven months.

Tata Sky's interactive services include Active Star News, with interactive news and weather updates, and a range of popular multi-level games. Together, these NDS solutions enable Tata Sky to deliver advanced services that are the basis for what they claim is a viewing experience unsurpassed in the rapidly expanding pay-TV market in India.

Reliance
will dispute Tata Sky's claims about quality of their transmitted video. Reliance's Big TV product is claimed to have much better MPEG4 compression technology compared to MPEG2 technology used by Dish TV and Tata Sky. Reliance believes this will allow Big TV to offer over 240 channels versus the 160 channels that can be offered on the MPEG2 platform. It also delivers much better picture and sound quality than MPEG2. Reliance has reportedly ordered two million set-top boxes (STBs). So it plans on a lot folks watching their TV channels.

Seems to us that the Indian TV viewer is the benefactor of this competition. Now, if that competition also brings down prices for every TV service provider, everyone will be smiling.

dwarakesh

Tata Sky ropes in Ghajini actress, Asin as brand ambassador

Tata Sky announced the appointment of South Indian actress and upcoming Hindi film Ghajini heroine, Asin as the company's new brand ambassador.

"Tata Sky has indeed made life jingalala for many Indian families with its bouquet of unique offering. I am proud to associate myself with a brand that symbolizes excellence, innovation and world class customer service. I am looking forward in playing an important part in Tata Sky''s vision of redefining television viewing in India" said Asin.

Vikram Mehra, Chief Marketing Officer, Tata Sky Ltd. said, "Tata Sky and Asin have a lot in common. Both are young, energetic, achievers, and both enjoy a high degree of credibility with consumers. As our new face, she will be influential in reinforcing the attributes of the Tata Sky brand and reiterate our positioning."

dwarakesh

Big TV enhances GUI to make it more user-friendly

Big TV
announced the introduction of an enhanced graphical user interface (GUI) with an aim to improve the end-user experience. The free software enhancements can be enabled by the subscribers by following some simple procedures, says Big TV.

Big TV's one such feature allows, user to place the logo of Big TV as per the user's liking on the screen to ensure that it does not blocks the screen or overlap with another channel logo.

Program Guide and SELECT, a 12 hour time clock can be accessed through the direct remote key access. The home page too provides direct access to CINEMA channels landing page, iNTERACTIVE landing page, and SERVICES.

"User interface is one of the critical building blocks to enhance positive customer experience in digital home entertainment. We have deployed futuristic world-class technology platforms in Reliance BIG TV DTH service to ensure delightful and seamless TV viewing experience for our customers", said Sanjay Behl, Group Head – Brand and Marketing, Reliance Communications.

sajiv

Cable cut disrupts net services

New Delhi: India is among the countries that have been hit by the undersea cable damage that occurred in the Mediterranean, disrupting internet and communication links between Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Even as large Indian BPOs moved traffic to back-up routes and circuits, smaller call centres that rely on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) were hit the most.

S.V. Ramana, president, Other Service Providers Association of India (OSPAI) said the larger BPO which used IPLC and MPLS continue to run smoothly.

"However, BPOs which are serving the U.K. market in a big way may have been hit, as only half of the cable system is currently in use on the Atlantic route. Also, smaller companies who use the Internet as core network connectivity for serving clients are likely to see congestion, and higher latency," he added.


sajiv

Order to dig channel issued

73-km flood carrier channel will carry surplus water from the Tamirabharani

TIRUNELVELI: Radhapuram MLA M. Appavu's dream of realising the construction of flood carrier channel from the perennial Tamirabharani has received a major boost as the State Government has issued an order to execute the construction of the 73-km-long channel in four stages.

The channel will carry surplus water from the Tamirabharani to the rain-shadow regions of Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts. Since each stage will have 18 packages (works), the project is expected to have 72 packages between Vellankuzhi near Cheranmahadevi in Tirunelveli district and M.L. Thaeri near Sattankulam in Tuticorin district, all to be executed under the Central Government's Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme.

Work will start from the head-works towards the tail-end. To avoid delay, usually caused by problems in land acquisition, tenders will be awarded only after the award for the land acquired is categorically settled by the competent authority.

When works in the lower reach is taken up for execution, the officials should ensure no work is left out in the previous upper reach.
Rs. 369-crore scheme

The Rs. 369-crore project will use the huge quantum of the Tamirabharani's floodwaters, which drains into the Gulf of Mannar every year, to irrigate crops on 19,710 hectares in 22 villages in Tirunelveli and 14 villages in Tuticorin district before running into the sea at Punnaikaayal, a hamlet in Tuticorin district, flowing 120 km down the Western Ghats near Papanasam.

The Tamirabharani and its 12 tributaries transform 77,500 hectares in the two districts. Besides nine reservoirs built across this perennial river, eight major channels and 1,300 system tanks convey its water to the fields.

Yet, there is no scope for storing or using the floodwaters sent down by the copious rainfall in the Western Ghats. On an average, 13,380 mcft goes waste during the rainy season, even as vast swatches of parched land in the Radhapuram and Nanguneri taluks of Tirunelveli district and the Sattankulam taluk of Tuticorin district and lakhs of people are craving for water. Once this project is completed, the surplus water of Tamiraparani will irrigate 5,059 hectares (12,500 acre).

Connecting channels will be dug between the flood carrier channel and the Karumaeniyar river (5,350 metre), the Nambiyar river (6,700 metre) and the Manimuthar river (2,500 metre).

Two check dams at Maleodai and Keezhodai on the Sattankulam- Nazareth stretch will be constructed.


sajiv

Present tense for Arasu cable operators

CHENNAI: The patch-up between the Maran brothers and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's family has left around 2.5 lakh families, dependent on Arasu Cable Corporation (ACC), in dire straits, as they are facing threats from their competitors, particularly Kalanidhi Maran's Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV).

The cable operators affiliated with SCV and other networks have launched a propaganda that the ACC will no longer function in Thanjavur, Coimbatore, Thiruvarur and Tirunelveli, where it launched its network in July.

Around 400 cable operators using the ACC's multi-system operation service are at the crossroads because their competitors are damaging cable wires, sending threatening messages and spreading rumours that the pay channels, including Sun TV, Sony and Star Vijay, will never be aired on ACC, Krishna Kumar, a cable operator registered with ACC in Coimbatore, told reporters here on Tuesday.

He, along with 300 cable operators from the four districts and Vellore, thronged Gopalapuram to meet the Chief Minister at his residence to air their grievances. But they were detained by the police and kept in a marriage hall on Lloyd's Road.

Unless Chief Minister Karunanidhi arranges for private channels to offer their signals to the government, either through legal means or through out-of-court settlement, it will be difficult for the 400 cable operators to function in the four districts, said Gomathi Narayanan, a cable operator from Tirunelveli. Ironically, the government lawyers failed to appear before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal bench of the Supreme Court in the case connected with the State Government seeking a direction for Sun Network to provide signals of its channels to the ACC on December 15, said Uvaraja, a cable operator from Coimbatore.

"It is not possible for us to merge with the competitors, instead we will commit suicide," said many of the operators. Four of them managed to meet the CM's personal secretary and submitted their petition. However, 350 of them are staging a hunger fast at the marriage hall and have refused to go back to their towns unless the Chief Minister meets them.


sajiv

Cable TV operators raise the volume

Over 500 cable TV operators owing allegiance to the State government-run Arasu Cable Corporation from southern districts of the State landed in Chennai today to meet Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and brief him about the non-availability of several  channels in the network.


.
They alleged high-handedness of other Multi- System Operators (MSOs).Though the State-own cable corporation was kicked off in many districts in the South, there were allegations that few important channels were not being beamed.

The bouquet of channels from Sun , Sony and Star group were not available in Arasu Cable Corporation.

In the wake of this cable TV war, several cases of cutting of cables were reported.Several complaints by the authorities to the police ended in vain as their woes continued.

Apparently dejected, over 500 cable TV operators from Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Tirunelveli, Erode and Coimbatore landed in Chennai this morning seeking a meeting with the Chief Minister.

The cars and vans in which they came to the city were blocked in  suburban Tambaram. However, they managed to reach Chennai through train and buses.

On reaching Gopalapuram, they were forced to stay in a marriage hall and a playground at Gopalapuram.

According to one of the operators, ‘We have come here to express our agony and frustration to the Chief Minister.

We are not being allowed even to go out of the marriage hall, where they were detained by the police. We joined Arasu Cable Corporation as it was floated by the government itself. But it has not received patronage from the masses since prominent channels are not available.’

Echoing the same, another operator said, ‘We want Karunanidhi to look into the issue at the earliest. Following the reunion between Maran Brothers and Karunanidhi family, we thought the bouquet of Sun TV network of channels would be made available. But it is not so’.

The spat between the Maran Brothers and the family of Chief Minister resulted in the latter floating Kalaignar TV.

Also, in many places in Chennai, the channel distribution and TV entertainment, hitherto controlled by Maran Brothers’ Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV), was taken over by Hathway, the other MSO.

In Madurai, Karunanidhi’s elder son M K Azhagiri floated his own MSO called Royal Cable Vision (RCV).

Then, the State government announced a cable distribution company, Arasu Cable Corporation, which was inaugurated in southern districts from 15 July.


dwarakesh

Big TV launches MDU service

Coimbatore: Big TV, a direct to home (DTH) service provider, has introduced Multi-Dwelling Unit (MDU) installation service across India.

The company is targeting a market share of 40 per cent in the MDU segment within the first year of operations. With the help of MDU service a single dish antenna can provide DTH connection to multiple households. This circumvents the need for installing individual dish antennas for every household connection.

Mahesh Prasad, President of Reliance Communications said "MDUs are a natural extension of a DTH service. Our MDU service offers a perfect solution to residential complexes which are not too keen to have too many dish antennas peeking out of balconies and where the line of sight to the satellite is not very clear. ".

Big TV will provide the service to an entire residential complex through a single large dish antenna linked to individual Set Top Boxes (STBs) in various households within the premises. The MDU dish size varies from 90 cm to 120 cm depending on the number of households. The cost of hardware will be borne by Big TV. Each household participating in the scheme will get a STB as a part of Big TV's MDU scheme.

Despite the common dish antenna, subscribers will be able to choose their own channels package including the free regional pack offered with the inaugural channels pack.

Subscribers will also have the option of opting for any of the various entry offers that are available.

Big TV has already installed MDUs at over 1,500 locations.

The company is conducting a series of road shows across India as part of its marketing efforts to generate awareness and drive subscription sales in these markets.

sajiv

Cable TV charges to go up effective Jan 1

CHENNAI: This was the last item standing on your monthly list which did not fall a prey to raging inflation. Yes, television viewing will become
expensive effective January 1, albeit marginally. That your cable TV operator will continue to fleece you is a problem you have to live with.

As per a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) statement, a seven per cent increase has been provided based on wholesale price index movement for cable services. In simple terms, what is Rs 77 plus 12% taxes will cost Rs 82 plus taxes from January, for those households which opt for only free to air (FTA) channels. Besides, TRAI has also hiked the ceiling for pay channels from the present Rs 5 per channel to Rs 5.35 a channel.

"What big deal. My cable TV operator already charges me Rs 110 a month, when he should charge me only Rs 86.25. He will now use this hike a reason to charge me more," S Meenakshi, a resident of Madipakkam said. Under the revised tariff, as a consumer of only FTA channels you need to pay only Rs 91.84.

The TRAI notification also revised the charges for set-top-boxes (STBs). Under the new guideline, service providers are required to offer two schemes, one with security deposit of Rs 200 instead of Rs 250 with a monthly rental of Rs 34 instead of Rs 45 and another with a security deposit of Rs 750 instead of Rs 999 with a monthly rental of just Rs 22 instead of Rs 30.

The impact of these changes notified by TRAI would impact Chennai maximum as the southern metropolis has 1.70 million STBs, the highest in the country, as of June 2008. Ofcourse there are small pockets in Mumbai and New Delhi which will also be impacted due to these changes.

"I somehow think that people who decide don't factor in the ground situation. Only a few months back, cable operators near my area were offering STBs free of cost. Also, in this age of DTH, how relevant is this revision for STB?" C Saraswathi, a resident near Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore asked.


sajiv

Tata Sky introduces targeted region, state and city specific advertising on TV

Chennai: After successfully launching many innovations, Tata Sky Ltd., the JV between the TATA Group and STAR, on Monday introduced yet another unique innovation with the launch of focused geography specific advertising for brands on TV, another first on the DTH platform in India.

With this innovative service, Tata Sky now provides brands across categories an option of not only reaching out to over 3 million premium Tata Sky subscribers but an option of targeting subscribers specific to a region, a state or a city of their choice across India thus optimizing the value of the advertisers budgets.

Mr. Vikram Mehra, Chief Marketing Officer, Tata Sky Ltd. said, "Tata Sky revolutionized the way brands have traditionally advertised on TV with the introduction of interactivity in ads for direct response driven campaigns. Looking at the current economic scenario where most brands are cutting on huge advertisement budgets, we wanted to introduce an advertising innovation by which brands could beam promotions on TV in the area of their choice leading to maximum results. Now, Tata Sky has made that miracle possible."

Adding further, Mr. Mehra said, "Additionally, Tata Sky offer brands a premium subscriber base comprising of many niche buying groups and also the option of targeted advertising on Actve services where subscribers spend on an average 34 minutes per day. Using this unique innovation, brands can now connect to a specific audience without any spillover. Even more, advertisers now have an option of creating offers based on regional sales trends and data available. This form of advertising is a boon for companies in all sectors like the retail chains as well as the FMCG players where localized schemes play crucial role during various seasons."


sajiv


Dish TV to add 200 channels next year

New Delhi : With DTH platform gaining momentum in the country, Essel group company Dish TV is planning to add another 200 channels by next year to its bouquet to maintain its lead in the space.

"We have the largest content pipe. We carry about 225 plus channels (now). Going forward, within a year's time, we will increase it to 400-450," Dish TV Chief Operating Officer Salil Kapoor said.

The company, which has been one of the earliest players in the field, is also looking at strengthening its value-added services vertical.

"We, currently, have services like ICICI Active where one can get all the information about ICICI's loans and offers, which are unique to us. We are working on similar lines for others, the details of which are being worked on," Kapoor said.

He, however, declined to divulge the names of the firms or the verticals being looked at.

The company is also looking at other channels like multi dwelling units (MDUs) and mobile MDUs. "We have a lot of high profile clients who want to stay in touch with news on the move. For them, mobile MDUs provide access to DTH on the go," Kapoor said.

A mobile MDU costs about Rs 1.5 lakh and can be used in buses, yatchs and railways.

Despite the slump seen in other sectors, Kapoor said he is upbeat about the industry and expects it to grow.


sajiv

Thanks for the reply kalyan & which dish u think in Good quality to the Customers

dwarakesh

Tata Sky Sankranti offer

Tata Sky+ from Micro Electronics will help the existing subscribers record 45 hours of their favourite programmes and view them later. Offer closes today. Micro Electronics also offers two-month free subscription for new subscribers. For more details, contact: 66365467; 9246274575

dwarakesh

Big TV claims 500,000 subscriber additions in South   

Reliance Communication's DTH services subsidiary, Big TV claimed that it has achieved 500,000 subscriber within a span of five months in the southern part of the country thereby making it the fast growing DTH player in the region.

"It's heartening to note that we're scoring impressively in The South which has diverse content needs. Reaching the magic figure of 5-lakh customer milestone in the four Southern States was a great New Year gift to us. It is indeed a testimony to the superior product and the best proposition offered by BIG TV and its success in accelerating the growth momentum of DTH sector in India," said Mr. Mahesh Prasad, President – Reliance Communications.

Big TV attributed the success to its unique blending of programme offering to the subscribers in the region offering them regional content along with popular channels as well as pricing it competitively.

Karnataka including Bangalore emerged as the most promising state for the company with 150,000 subscribers.

sajiv

Celebrating 25 million Viewers Dishtv offers Free Recharge

Chennai, : Dishtv - India's No. 1 direct-to-home company and part of the biggest media conglomerate – Zee Group, today announced an enhanced value offering for its discerning subscribers, by presenting a Recharge Free offer to its existing and new subscribers in the countdown to cross 25 million viewers.

To celebrate 5 million subscribers resulting into 25 million viewer's milestone Dishtv offers its subscribers a mega offer of Free Recharge, through this offer whatever amount the subscribers recharge for they get the same value worth free, thus recharge becomes completely FREE.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Salil Kapoor, COO, Dishtv, said "Dishtv has always been in the forefront of bringing innovative and path breaking offers that have set the industry benchmarks. We are about to cross the 25 million viewer's landmark and we would like to thank all our subscribers for making us the No.1 DTH company. We are extremely delighted to present our subscribers a Free Recharge offer to commemorate this major milestone."

"Dishtv has always taken the lead in enhancing the value proposition of the DTH category thereby expanding the DTH market. This new initiative is in line with our vision to add value to the lives of millions of customers across the length and breadth of India and to acquire 3 million subscribers in 2009 and remain customer's 1st choice". Salil Kapoor added.

Dishtv has consistently led the DTH market in the country through its cutting edge products and superior services. Our philosophy of delivering value and high quality service to our customers combined with strong business leadership has made Dishtv the largest DTH service provider in the country.

Dishtv has introduced customized package wise and value based Recharge Free ITZ Cash Card, specifically for this offer. This is a new concept in the DTH industry where subscribers can top-up their subscription using tailor-made package cards. The denominations introduced are:

Silver Card – Rs 200 & Rs 500

Gold Card – Rs 500

Diamond Card – Rs 700

Platinum – Rs 700 & Rs 1800

For all the denominations, the recharge free benefits apply and 100% value will be returned back to the subscriber.

Subscribers can enjoy Recharge Free offer using any mode of payment like ITZ Cash Card, Net Banking, Credit Card, Cheque, DD, Easy Bill, Drop Box etc.

The Recharge free offer benefits are extended to all new subscribers of Dishtv. For all new subscribers buying dishtv, starting now, the Recharge free freebies of a-la-carte packs and MOD will be provided on all existing activation schemes available in the market, there is no change in the prevailing prices/ offers, which are already very attractive. The freebies credited will be worth the activation value for the respective offer being purchased.

Dishtv offers its customers choice and superior value for money with a range of innovative value-added services backed by excellent customer service and a variety of 30 + a-la-carte Packs, ranging from Rs 15 to Rs 55 + tax. These packs have been so designed so as to offer maximum entertainment options and largest content basket at every price point.

About Dish TV India:

Dishtv is India's No. 1 direct-to-home company and part of the biggest media conglomerate – Zee group. Dishtv has on its platform 225 channels & services including 21 audio channels with registered 4.8 million subscribers, which is growing. Dishtv has a vast distribution network of about 650 distributors & 45,000 dealers that spans around 6500 towns across the country. Dishtv has 24* 7 call centre with 1600 seats in 11 different languages to take care of subscriber requirements at any point of time. For more information on Dishtv, visit www.dishtv.in

dwarakesh

DTH eyes cable market

The fight for the market between cable networks and DTH (direct to home) providers is poised to take a bitter turn with major DTH providers in India cutting down their monthly subscription rates. The current DTH subscription rate is at par with the monthly cable charges. By dropping their monthly subscription prices to amounts ranging from Rs 182 to 249 ($3.7-5.1), DTH operators are directly targeting existing cable users.

Leading DTH operator, Dish TV, is now offering 125 channels for a subscription value as low as Rs 100 ($2) per month. The idea is clear - manipulate satellite TV viewers to shift from cable networks to DTH. These desperate measures indicate that in spite of spectacular growth, the DTH sector is weighed down by pressing problems. One of the problems is very low ARPU (average revenue per user).

DTH was launched with lots of promises four years back. The sound and picture quality would be far superior, it was claimed. Additional services such as video on demand, music on demand, and multiple viewing options were also promised. The most important was that DTH subscribers would be saved from being victims to the eternal squabbles between channel owners and cable operators. Pay channel owners would hike the channel rate every six or eight months on the pretext that cable operators were under declaring their subscription figures. Cable operators on the other hand, alleged that pay channel owners were including unpopular channels in their channel bouquet depriving viewers of prime content.

As a result, when DTH arrived it was seen as a boon for television viewers. However, DTH is at the cross roads today. Although DTH registered a compound annual growth rate of over 30 per cent, the growth has been primarily in new areas. In other words, it did not make much of a dent in the cable sector considering the fact that a large section of DTH subscribers came from areas where there was no cable network, in first place.

Four years after DTH began operations, cable networks remained the dominant mode of satellite TV distribution. Of the 120 million homes watching private satellite television, 75 million are cable TV subscribers. The fact that only one million subscribers receive digital cable service indicates that the bulk of cable TV subscribers use the traditional analog mode.

DTH has its own drawbacks. The Ku-band through which it functions experiences problems during heavy rainfalls and storms. The add-on services also failed to reach the hyped up expectations. One of the biggest myths exploded was the initial belief that DTH would be cheaper. In the initial phases, the monthly subscription rates of DTH service packages that offered all pay channels were as high as that of cable if not more. The fact that an amount of about Rs 3000 ($62) would have to be invested for the set top boxes deterred cable TV subscribers from moving over to DTH.

Cable networks also had a peculiar advantage. Most big networks ran their own TV channel (ground channel) providing hundred percent local content, especially news. The local flavour added to the popularity of the cable networks. Today, as DTH service providers are embroiled in a price war, cable networks have to device a clear cut strategy to stave off the DTH threat. Former director of Siliguri based Cable Combine Communication, the largest cable network in northern region of West Bengal, Goutam Basu feels that the significant cut in DTH subscription rates would have an impact on the cable industry as well.

"It is a bitter situation and one with the better strategy and surviving skills would remain", said Basu. "If cable networks have to survive in the long run, digitalisation is a must", he added.

Analysts estimate that DTH, which is out and out digital, will have around 20 million subscribers by 2013. At the present rate of digitalisation, digital cable is estimated to have around 5 million subscribers in the same year.

Going digital is clearly the only way out for cable networks to retain their dominant position in the long run. As for DTH, the digital factor is its greatest advantage.

Source: IT Examiner

sajiv

Recession seems positive for DTH industry: Dish TV

Direct-to-Home major Dish TV, a part of Zee Group, on Tuesday said that it expects to achieve the break even point by second or third quarter of 2009-10 in the back of rising subscribers base.

The company has targeted to reach 8 million subscribers mark by next fiscal from 4.8 million at present. It also expects to attain the break even point by second or third quarter of 2009-10, Dish TV India Ltd COO Salil Kapoor told reporters here today.

He said that the economic recession may have hit several industrial sectors of the country, but it has proved fruitful for the DTH industry as the number of subscribers' base in the country have almost doubled in the last three months.

"Recession has affected DTH industry positively as... people have started controlling their entertainment bills by not going much outside for movies rather sticking to their TVs more...Because TV has become cheapest form of entertainment as of now," Kapoor said.

Presently, the company enjoys about 48 per cent market share.

He said, "During July, August and September in 2008, DTH industry was adding six lakh subscribers per month but the base jumped to one million in October, November and December when the impact of recession was actually being felt on the economy."

It is confident that the total subscribers' base of DTH industry in the country would double to 20 million per annum by 2009 from 10 million at present. Out of 220 million households in the country, there are 125-130 million TV household. "Out of which, 80-85 million are still with cable network and about 10 million are with DTH," he informed.

Dish TV has drawn a strategy in which it will focus on retaining its existing customers by taking care of their monthly bills.

sajiv

Cable TV operators meeting today

VELLORE: Managing Director of Arasu Cable T.V. Corporation C. Umashankar has convened a consultation meeting with cable TV operators in Vellore district at the conference hall of the Collectorate here at 11 a.m. on Thursday. Collector C. Rajendran, in a release, requested all the cable TV operators in the district to participate in the meeting.

dwarakesh

Shop On Your Airtel DTH via iShop

Subscribers will be able to place orders through iShop's call centre without stepping out of their homes

Now, you can indulge your craving for shopping sitting at home since Indiatimes Shopping has launched a shopping facility on Airtel's DTH interactive services platform under the brand name 'iShop.'

iShop will function as a real-time 24-hour shopping channel on television.

With iShop, Airtel DTH subscribers will get to browse through the 'iShop' catalogue and will be able to purchase electronic items, mobile phones, apparels and accessories, books and magazines, gifts and flowers, and health and beauty products.

Subscribers will be able to place orders through iShop's call centre without stepping out of their homes.

This facility will allow users various payment options like cash on delivery, cheque, and credit card.

Source- Techtree

sajiv

5 lakh subscribers

Coimbatore: Big TV, Direct to Home service provider, has received 5 lakh subscribtions in the four southern States within five months of its launch.

Mahesh Prasad, president of Reliance Communications, said that Big TV was scoring impressively in the south.

sajiv


Regulate cable TV subscription
The monthly subscription for Cable TV at Ramanathapuram is ranging from Rs. 120/- to Rs. 150/- per month. This is indeed very high for the middle and lower sections of people. The number of cable T.V. connections in all towns and villages is growing every day following free distribution of colour television sets by the Government. In Ramanathapuram, the receipt issued for monthly subscriptions does not reveal the name and address of the Cable TV operator and there is not even the name of the town Ramanathapuram is found. There may be around 30,000 cable connections and the quantum of amount collected every month has to be noted by the law enforcing agencies like commercial tax and income tax departments. The District Administration should regulate and fix a reasonable subscription amount to be collected every month or open the Government cable network in Ramanathapuram at the earliest in the best interest of the public.
Asmabagh Anvardeen,Ramanathapuram.

Link Vaigai with Gundar
Our Chief Minister has proposed to lay the foundation stone for the linking of Tamirabarani River with Karumeniyaru, Pachaiaru and Nambiyaru on February 9, 2009. I am much pleased to see the news.

During the rainy season, the excess water in the Vaigai River is let into the Bay of Bengal. Will the authorities link the Vaigai with Gundar and Malataru and help the drought prone district of Ramanathapuram. The tanks in Mudukulathur, Kamuthi, Kadaladi will benefit, if linked.
V. Rajendran,Paramakudi.

No taxation without sanitation
In Sivaganga town, which incidentally is the District Headquarters, the state of public hygiene is very low and deplorable. The streets are never swept, as in the past. Plastic cups, covers and dry leaves lay strewn every where.

The staff who come in the mornings collect only the domestic waste handed over to them. They refuse to pay attention to the waste lying scattered on roads, saying that "it is not their job." Street corners and road margins have become garbage centres. The less said about the drainage, the better. The waste water refuses to move or to be moved. Mosquitoes breed in plenty and hobnob with us in the evenings. The various mosquito coils and repellents drain only our money and certainly not the winged visitors. In a word, it is not hygiene, but 'lowgiene' that prevails here. Many ministers make frequent trips here but some how they miss these 'eye-catching' scenes that dot the town. But can we say, no 'taxation' without 'sanitation'? Perhaps, we can; perhaps we can't!
G.K.S. Kandasubramanian,Sivaganga.

Clean gutters
Ramanathapuram is notorious for its open gutters. Almost all the streets are flooded with open gutters. One has to negotiate more than a score of gutters in a street.

The gutters are not being cleared daily.
This aspect has not been given any due consideration by the Municipality. As a result, the gutter water becomes a nuisance to the public.

If the mandarins of the Ramanathapuram Municipality can think more prudently and plan properly, this can be avoided. Will the Municipal Commissioner accept the realities and take appropriate action to clear the gutter daily.
G. Nagasamy,Ramanathapuram.


sajiv

Many TV stations to make DTV switch next week

Despite a regulator-approved delay to the nationwide digital TV switchover, more than a third of the nation's TV stations plan to begin broadcasting completely in digital next week.

The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday released a list of 681 of the nation's 1,800 or so TV stations that plan to make the switch by February 17. TV stations were required to notify the FCC by Monday if they planned to turn off their analog TV signal on February 17.

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed a bill that moves the deadline for transitioning TV broadcast from analog to digital from February 17 to June 12. The Senate has also passed a similar bill. President Obama is expected to sign it into law shortly. However, a compromise provision allows broadcasters to transition to all-digital broadcasts early if they get permission from the FCC.

Congress approved the delay out of concern that 20 million people, most of whom are poor, elderly, and living in rural parts of the country, were not prepared for the transition after the government ran out of the $40 coupons it was issuing to help defray the cost of the converter boxes necessary to allow older TVs to get digital signals.

Stations have been preparing to cut off their analog broadcasts for the February 17 deadline for months. Leaving the analog signals on will likely cost them more money as they are required to pay for the additional electricity and facility costs of running multiple transmitters. Most stations have already been airing some programming in digital.

The major broadcast networks, including ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC/Telemundo, have all agreed that their owned and operated stations would continue to broadcast in analog until the new DTV transition date.


sajiv

Free TV sets distributed

TIRUCHI: Free television sets have been distributed to about 2.37 lakh families in Tiruchi district so far at a cost of Rs.53 crores, Collector T.Soundiah has said.

Another 1.57 lakh families would get the television sets in the district in a phased manner, he said speaking at a special mass contact programme at Okkarai village in Thuraiyur taluk on Wednesday.

The Collector distributed welfare assistance worth Rs.30.42 lakhs to 287 beneficiaries on the occasion. Of the 210 petitions received in advance, 198 have been accepted and follow up action has been ordered.

About 310 petitions received during the camp would be processed and acted upon within the next few days, he said.


sajiv

Clampdown on dish TV dealers

Dubai: The Ministry of Economy has issued directives to authorities to clamp down on unauthorised dish TV in the UAE.

The directives strongly emphasise that selling these boxes in the UAE is prohibited as it violates the national copyright law by infringing on broadcasting rights. The boxes are illegally imported from India and sold throughout the Gulf.

The ministry recently conducted inspections against unauthorised dish TV dealers, with Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah police carrying out raids in March, which led to the confiscation of a number of dish TV boxes. These marked the largest actions against dish TV dealers in the GCC. The violators were arrested and criminally charged with violation of the copyright law.

Mohammad Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehi, General Manager of the ministry, said, "We have requested the various parties involved to tighten control over unauthorised dish TV boxes that illegally enter through a neighbouring country and are sold in our local market.

"I would like to thank the police and concerned national bodies for their cooperation in fighting piracy and taking measures against intellectual property rights (IPR) violators."

Al Shehi emphasised that legal action will be taken against those caught violating the Ministry's order, as piracy harms the competitiveness of the UAE, which reflects negatively on the national economy. He also noted that the Ministry will firmly deal with piracy-related activities.

The UAE is a country that maintains one of the lowest piracy rates and is one of the best states in terms of fighting piracy. This is due to the effective cooperation between Federal agencies. The Police are also swift in their actions to eliminate methods of piracy.

The recent step taken by the ministry and other concerned bodies is one of the key elements in providing a healthy work environment and enhancing the competitiveness that the UAE market enjoys.

The Ministry is working on enhancing confidence in the local markets and promoting a culture of research and development which forms the basis for fostering innovation and creativity.


sajiv


Dish TV unveils new package

CHENNAI: Direct-to-home (DTH) service provider Dish TV unveiled its new packaging of channels here on Wednesday. The new campaign, titled 'Sabse Zyaada', has additional channels to its basket, offered in three combinations.

Addressing presspersons V.P.Krishna Kumar, deputy vice-president, Dish TV India said customers would now have more channels for an attractive price.

"In total we are offering over 240 channels now, including 21 radio channels. About 15 film channels, 25 entertainment channels, 32 news channels, 15 kids' channels and as many as 90 regional language channels. Customers who prefer to retain their current basket of channels can still do so. Others could opt for any of the three new baskets on offer,' he says. The three new baskets of channels will be available from Rs.125 to Rs.312 per month.

sajiv


Dish TV unveils new package

CHENNAI: Direct-to-home (DTH) service provider Dish TV unveiled its new packaging of channels here on Wednesday. The new campaign, titled 'Sabse Zyaada', has additional channels to its basket, offered in three combinations.

Addressing presspersons V.P.Krishna Kumar, deputy vice-president, Dish TV India said customers would now have more channels for an attractive price.

"In total we are offering over 240 channels now, including 21 radio channels. About 15 film channels, 25 entertainment channels, 32 news channels, 15 kids' channels and as many as 90 regional language channels. Customers who prefer to retain their current basket of channels can still do so. Others could opt for any of the three new baskets on offer,' he says.

The three new baskets of channels will be available from Rs.125 to Rs.312 per month.

sajiv

Dish TV shares change hands in block deals on BSE, NSE

Around 65.88 million shares in Dish TV India Ltd changed hands on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange at a weighted average price of 50.35 rupees on Monday, according to data from the exchanges.

The shares represent 6.96 percent of the direct-to-home satellite operator's share capital, based on a calculation by Reuters. The details of the buyers and sellers were not immediately known.

Shares in Dish TV were down 10.52 percent on the BSE at 48.05 rupees in a weak Mumbai market.

sajiv


BIG TV to beam in-stadia cricket experience

Rolling highlight of all 6s, 4s and wickets will be offered

Viewers can also get in-depth information of players

Coimbatore: Reliance BIG TV, the DTH service of Reliance ADA Group, has launched iCricket interactive service.

Through this platform, Reliance BIG TV will offer in-stadia live experience of the ICC World T20 matches.

BIG TVs iCricket service will also offer match highlights on-demand with multi-view options enabling viewer to switch between Live and extra camera or the highlights feed.

The iCricket service offers multi-lingual audio options enabling viewer to switch the language of commentary. Currently, BIG TV will offer a choice of four Indian languages including English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Additionally, there will be a BIG camera access enabling viewers to view the match with exclusive camera angles for an enhanced viewing experience.

In order to ensure viewers do not miss out on the golden moments of the matches, a rolling highlight of all 6s, 4s and wickets at the click of a button will be offered. Viewers can also get in-depth information on players as well as their past records along with an update on scores and scorecards of the playing teams.

Commenting on the new initiatives launched, Sanjay Behl, CEO, Reliance BIG TV said, it is part of the endeavour to achieve customer delight with enhanced services and initiatives ensuring an unmatched television viewing experience. To deliver an uninterrupted cricket viewing experience to its subscribers, BIG TV has introduced an Express Service at the customers' doorstep during the T20 World Cup across 500 towns and cities in addition to 24 X 7 customer care helpline.

sajiv


Big TV expands channel bouquet

Coimbatore: Reliance BIG TV is expanding its channel bouquet with addition of 10 new channels with effect from June 1.

Reliance Communications President Mahesh Prasad said that the new channels included Korea's KBS and WB and the latest English entertainment channel from the Turner International India Private Limited in association with their sister company Warner Bros.

The rest of the channels included leading regional channels in India; DD Podhigai (Tamil), NE TV (Telegu), India Vision (Malayalam), Star Jalsa (Bangla), Star Pravah (Marathi), Mahua (Bhojpuri), DD Kashmir (Urudu/Kashmiri) and TV 99 (Rajasthani).

The channels would be available across various subscription packs and customers wishing to avail of these channels could log their request at the call-centre by asking for the new subscription pack. The customers could select the free regional pack as part of the new subscription/recharge. Subscription packs are available from Rs. 115.

The offer is part of the overall strategy to increase its channel bouquet to 400 channels over the next one year.


sajiv


Reliance Big TV launches iStock

Coimbatore: Reliance Big TV has launched a portfolio tracking service – iStock – on a DTH platform for tracking personal investments. The launch was in partnership with Reliance money and is an effort to tap synergies of Reliance ADA Group's multi-sector, multi-domain expertise.

This zone will not only provide information about Indian and international indices, currencies, commodity, stock and market news; but also provide Reliance Big TV customers with value added services, including a unique personal portfolio management tracker.

Mr. Mahesh Prasad, president, Reliance Communications said: "The iStock launch is an illustration of the Reliance ADA Group's effort to draw synergies of its domain expertise across various sectors. The iStock application is part of our endeavour to offer customers unique and differentiated content and enhance their overall interaction with the Reliance BIG TV brand."

Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Managing Director, Reliance Money said: "It is our endeavour to provide customers with value added services and increased levels of convenience. Embracing the DTH platform of Reliance BIG TV was the logical next step in providing our customers access to Reliance Money's portal content from the comfort of their living rooms." iStock's Portfolio Manager will allow users to add, track upward / downward movement of their stocks automatically and the overall gain / loss of their investments.

The Portfolio Manager will allow users to add up to 16 stocks in the portfolio and monitor them independently with an option to edit/ delete/ replace the target stocks anytime. Reliance BIG TV will also present all the information in graphic charts to display the trends.