All Entries Tagged With: "Ajai Puri"
Indian DTH firms bet on premium services, but cost a worry
The Indian Direct-to-home (DTH) broadcast market is witnessing a flood of premium and add-on services like HD (high definition) and gaming features, but cost remains a stumbling block in efforts to woo customers, industry players say. In the last six months, major players like Dish TV, Tata Sky and Airtel have launched high-end services like HD and PVR (personal video recording) in efforts to diversify their product in an increasingly crowded DTH broadcast industry, but the jury is still out on whether traditionally cost-sensitive subscribers will take the bait. “This market will grow, but »»»
DTH companies unleash high definition war as content tries hard to catch up
NEW DELHI: Consumers need to watch out before they go for that high definition (HD) DTH set top box. Even as DTH companies gear up for relaying content in high definition, the content backing it is very little. Only two channels- Discovery and National Geographic are available in HD. Essel Group channels Zee TV and Zee Cinema are available only with Dish TV, also an Essel Group venture, and ESPN has only two properties, the ongoing Fifa World Cup and Wimbledon, currently available for HD broadcast, and that too with select DTH operators. Leading players like Dish TV, Tata Sky, Airtel Digital TV, »»»
Airtel digital TV Adds High Definition Excitement to Soccer Fever
Available at Rs. 2250 across India for existing Airtel digital TV customers and Rs.2840 for new customers. New Airtel digital TV HD customers can have either the Economy Pack for 75 days free or the South Super Value Sports Pack free for 90 days Airtel digital TV- the DTH service from Bharti Airtel – today announced the launch of ‘Airtel digital TV HD’, an enhanced Set Top Box (STB) with capability to showcase High Definition (HD) content to its customers. As part of this, Airtel digital TV HD users get to have ESPN on HD. Airtel will be adding other HD channels to its offering over the »»»
Airtel enters high definition arena, launches set-top boxes
Airtel digital TV, the DTH arm of Bharti Airtel, is launching its High Definition service, with set-top boxes (STBs) priced at Rs 2,840, further fueling the price war in the sector. Its competitors like Tata Sky, Dish TV, Reliance BIG TV and Sun Direct have already launched their high definition (HD) services at various price points to attract new subscribers. “Airtel digital TV HD will be available at Rs 2,250 for our existing customers choosing to upgrade and Rs 2,840 for all new customers,” Bharti Airtel Director and CEO (DTH) Ajai Puri told PTI. HD transmissions offer better picture »»»
Despite high subsidy, Bharti gung ho on DTH biz model
MUMBAI: The direct-to-home (DTH) industry has to incur Rs 2,000 per customer as subsidy at the moment, but with falling equipment prices, the business scenario will look up, Ajai Puri, chief executive, Bharti Telemedia, told ET. Competition has become fierce since the entry of three new players, including Bharti. Other players in the market include Tata Sky, Dish TV, Reliance Big TV, Sun TV besides digital cable. There has been a sharp decline in one-time costs that subscribers have to bear, as monthly subscription plans have regulated price ceilings. The initiation of DTH services was triggered »»»
Set-top boxes get smarter
Direct-to-home players converge digital media to lure customers. Saif Ali Khan using his mobile handset to record his nagging on-screen wife Kareena Kapoor’s favourite TV serial in the direct-to-home (DTH) commercial of Airtel Digital TV seems to have triggered a war among other industry players. In a bid to win over customers, DTH service providers are offering features that combine digital set-top box (STB) with remote devices like mobile phones. Close to 2.5 million Airtel DTH subscribers can avail of the remote programme recording facility by paying Rs 5,990 (after a discount of Rs 1,000) »»»
Airtel DTH: Recorder on the go
For a couple of years now, Tata Sky has positioned its personal video recorder as a differentiator in the direct-to-home (DTH) market. It was the only service that allowed you to record the programmes you liked but could not watch. But that advantage is now history. Airtel DTH has become the second to market this gadget. Airtel’s device not just records, pauses, replays and fast-forwards TV content, it also sways to orders given over the mobile phone. Bharti Airtel Director and CEO (DTH) Ajay Puri says: “Surveys have shown that in homes with personal video recorders, 30-40 per cent of content »»»
