Category: DTH Operator

  • No compromise on Tata Sky when it comes to your choice of entertainment

    No compromise on Tata Sky when it comes to your choice of entertainment

    MUMBAI: With an objective to liberate customers from their current confusions, Tata Sky, India’s leading content distribution platform launched its latest campaign, ‘No Compromise’ toexplain why it is necessary to choose Tata Sky to fit anindividual’s budget and content needs. Featuring Gajraj Rao, the campaign highlights the core message of ‘No Compromise’on entertainment needs viatailor-made Packs and Instant Pack Modificationsavailable on Tata Sky.

    Gajraj Rao clearly the show-stealer of 2018 will star in 3Tata Skyad films helping the customersunderstand why there is no reason or ‘Rishtedaari’ (relation) that should make one compromise between theircontent of choice and budget. The campaign urges customers to make that all important and long impending move to Tata Sky. At a time when change is inevitable and mostly seems painful, Tata Sky assures that its high-end technology will provide answers to all the consumers needs. 

    Through this campaign, Tata Sky addresses the changebrought about by the current pricing regime and offers assurances of never letting any customer compromise between either content or budget. 

    The ad campaign delights with Gajraj Rao playing the adamant husband & son-in-law unwilling to change with time., leading to unhappy family members. A smile is rest assured, as you relate to these day-to-day scenarios from our lives. 

    Film 1:The first adfilm opens inside a local shop, where the conversation between the father-in-law and son-in-law (played by Gajraj Rao) is around why the same set of channels are now costing more. Since the son-in-law doesn’t budge on his argument, the father-in-law ends up finding Tata Sky as the solution to his problems. But since the ‘rishtedaari’ must be maintained he reluctantly has to step back and compromise on his choice of packs fitting his budget.  

    Film 2:In the second film, the wifetells her husband, (played by Gajraj Rao)she is unable to watch her favourite shows, as the desired channels are unavailable in their selected pack. When her husband dismisses her plea, she tries calling Tata Sky for a switch.  But is unable to complete her selection as she feels conflicted about straining her‘Rishtedaari’with her husband thereby compromising on her choice of channels.

    Film 3: The brother-in-law – Saleji, asks his Jijo (Gajraj Rao), ifhecan add his favorite sports channel for just a few days. But his Jiju refuses saying it’s not possible to add or drop channels whenever he asks. Saleji decides to book a Tata Sky connection online. Precisely then he remembers his ‘Rishtedaari’ with his sister and Jijo and compromises on his choice to add or drop his desired channels as he wishes. 

    Anurag Kumar, Chief Communications Officer, Tata Sky said, “Tata Sky remains committed to providing subscribers with quality entertainment using easy and simple steps. The ‘No Compromise’ campaign captures the pain that TV viewers across the country are facing today for something as critical as their daily dose of content viewing. Tata Sky is here to resolve the same. With Gajraj Rao’s immense popularity and Ogilvy &Mather’s creativity put to test we are glad we could deliver a campaign that addresses this pain in a humorous yet relatable manner.”

    Speaking on the new campaign, Sukesh Nayak, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy Mathersaid, “A compromise in relationships is inevitable. This campaign humorously depicts the compromise one must make in relationships. Luckily for majority of customers out there, who are un related parties, they can just switch to Tata Sky and watch their entertainment with #NoSamjhauta."

    With an aim to connect with the viewers and address all relevant concerns, the campaign is a 360-degree campaign which includes outdoor, digital and TVCs. To further build awareness and connect with people across the country, Tata Sky has created the advertisement in 8 different languages which includes Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Kannada, Telegu, Malyalam and Tamil.

  • Dish TV India’s ‘All in One Pack’ for Hindi heartland consumers

    Dish TV India’s ‘All in One Pack’ for Hindi heartland consumers

    MUMBAI: Catering to the evolving needs of customers, Dish TV India Limited, world’s largest single-country DTH Company is set to galvanise the industry with its new acquisition offers for both its brands. Recently many popular entertainment channels were taken off from Free Dish, and these customers are in need for their daily dose of entertainment.  To benefit these customers, ‘Bharat Cricket Combo’ on DishTV and ‘Value Combo’ on D2h are affordable new acquisition offers for cricket lovers at just INR 1,270 and 1,292 plus taxes for three months respectively. This has stirred up the entire market and led to doubling of new customer acquisitions and tripling of win-backs over last few days.

    Under this offer, the company is offering ‘India Cricket Service’ on DishTV & ‘India Cricket’ on D2h, which is an add-on/service along with FTA channels and popular Hindi channels ranging from infotainment, drama, devotional, news, music and movies. India Cricket Service is an advance request based add-on/service, which telecasts all the three formats (ODI, T20 and Test matches) of Indian men’s cricket team matches. Furthermore, customers can opt for more add-ons and bouquet services as per their choices including Set Top Box and free installation only.

    Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Anil Dua, Group CEO, Dish TV India Limited said, “In continuation of our efforts to provide maximum entertainment to the customers at affordable prices, we are delighted to announce very attractive offers on both our brands for cricket enthusiasts. The new offers are aimed at offering hassle-free cricket viewing experience along with mass entertainment and movie channels. We hope to acquire new customers specially from the rural markets and Hindi language speaking areas.”

  • Airtel Digital TV, Dish TV merger talks on

    Airtel Digital TV, Dish TV merger talks on

    MUMBAI: Sunil Bharti Mittal-led Bharti Airtel is not only scaling up its business in the broadband segment but is also trying to cement its presence in the DTH sector. Mittal has started talks with Dish TV to merge Airtel Digital TV with the leading DTH player.

    According to a report by Economic Times, the talks are now at an exploratory stage. The report also added quoting a source that the idea is to consolidate operations for facing the Jio onslaught. If the talk reaches a positive conclusion, the combined entity will be the world’s largest TV distribution company with over 38 million subscribers along with 61 per cent DTH market share in India.

    The consolidation in DTH space started with mega merger of Dish TV and Videocon d2h. Earlier, Airtel was in talks with another leading DTH player Tata Sky also but the parties could not reach any agreement.

    According to TRAI data, Dish TV combined with Videocon d2h leads with a 37 per cent market share as of September 2018 followed by Tata Sky’s 27 per cent and Airtel Digital TV stood with 24 per cent.

    In the third quarter, Dish TV had 23.6 million subscribers and it reported operating revenue of Rs 1,517.4 crore while Airtel Digital TV had 15 million subscribers with revenue of Rs 1,033 crore.  However, Airtel Digital TV’s ARPU was higher at Rs 231 compared to Dish TV’s ARPU of Rs 200.

  • Sun Direct introduces long duration regional packs

    Sun Direct introduces long duration regional packs

    MUMBAI: The popular DTH operator in South India, Sun Direct, has introduced long duration regional packs. According to reports, the newly introduced DPO packs come with a validity of up to six months covering languages Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali and Odia.

    A three month long duration pack is also available with the six month variant. Subscribers can also avail a discount of about 7 to 10 per cent if they want to opt for these packs. Earlier, another leading DTH player Tata Sky launched Annual Flexi Pack with a recharge credit of one month.

    Before the new TRAI tariff regime came into effect, every DTH operator had long duration packs which had good demand among consumers. With the changes in pricing, the DTH players are now rolling out new packs to prevent churn rate.

  • Airtel Digital TV removes network capacity fee

    Airtel Digital TV removes network capacity fee

    MUMBAI: After Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) tariff order has come into effect, consumers across the country have been complaining about a hike in cable bill. To keep them satisfied, DTH operators are waving off Network Capacity Fee (NCF). Now, Airtel Digital TV has joined the league of operators who have removed the NCF on free-to-air (FTA) channels following Tata Sky, Dish TV and Sun Direct.

    Airtel Digital TV is waiving off NCF for its long term plans only. Subscribers under three months plan, six months plan, 12 months plan will be able to avail this facility. According to media reports, the modified long term plans are now available in selected regions and are expected to be expanded into other regions within a few weeks.

    As per the latest framework, customers need to pay Rs 130 to get the first 100 FTA channels. An additional network fee of Rs 20 per month is also being charged for every block of 25 paid channels.

    Last month, TRAI extended the deadline for DTH and cable TV subscribers to select their channels till 31 March under the new tariff regime. The regulatory body added that the subscribers’ old plan would continue till the consumer makes the choice. TRAI also said that the subscribers who don’t exercise any choice would be migrated to ‘Best Fit Plans’.

  • Tata Sky ShortsTV to premiere royal stag barrel select large short films

    Tata Sky ShortsTV to premiere royal stag barrel select large short films

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky ShortsTV will start showcasing the Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films (LSF) catalogue on its platform 9th March onwards. It marks the first time these shorts format films will be seen on TV along with mobile & laptop in India on Tata Sky.

    LSF has established itself as one of the leading online short film platforms in India with some of the most original and inspiring short stories made by Indian directors. These include some of the most watched and talked about shorts in the country, created by young and aspiring directors and featuring big stars.

    ShortsTV is the world’s first and only TV channel dedicated to short movies and is available in India exclusively on Tata Sky. Launched in India in November 2018, the service Tata Sky ShortsTV has about 600 hours of unique and captivating short format stories on a single platform and is available to subscribers 24X7 on their television, the Tata Sky Mobile App & their web version

    Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Carter Pilcher, Chief Executive of ShortsTV We are thrilled to partner with Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films. Large Short Films have ushered in a revolution in the short film industry in India, and it is the perfect partner for ShortsTV in India.  In the next 12 months, we will be showcasing amazing titles from short films by Royal Stag Barrel Select, bringing in a flood of India’s best shorts exclusively on”.

    Commenting on the partnership, Kartik Mohindra, Chief Marketing Officer, Pernod Ricard India, said “We are delighted to partner with ShortsTV, the world’s first and only 24/7 TV channel dedicated to short films. The short film industry has been growing dramatically owing to the changing viewer habits. Our platform Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films has been at the helm of the evolving short film industry and has now become the torchbearer for original, powerful and perfect content. This partnership is a great opportunity for us to reach out to a wider audience”

    The LSF catalogue to broadcast on Tata Sky ShortsTV includes acclaimed titles such as ‘Chutney’, starring Tisca Chopra and Rasika Dugal, ‘Juice’, starring Shefali Shah, and ‘Shunyata’, starring Jackie Shroff to name a few.

    In addition, the films will be accompanied by exclusive interviews with the filmmakers behind the shorts, offering Indian audiences a glimpse into the making of these celebrated short stories.

    The series will begin on 9th March at 9pm with ‘Juice’ and ‘White Shirt’ and will be followed by ‘The School Bag’ and ‘Ahyla’ at 9pm on 16th March. The rest of the catalogue and interviews will be broadcast in the same timeslot in the coming months.

  • Tata Sky appoints Anurag Kumar as chief communications officer

    Tata Sky appoints Anurag Kumar as chief communications officer

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky, India’s leading content distribution platform has announced the appointment of Anurag Kumar as its Chief CommunicationsOfficer. In his new role Anurag will lead Marketing and Communications initiatives for Tata Sky for its products and services across all its platforms. 

    As a part of this portfolio, Anurag will be responsible for developing and monitoring traditional & new age marketing and communication strategies across Tata Sky platforms. 

    Anurag Kumar, Chief Communications Officer, Tata Sky,said:

    “India’s media & entertainment sector offers unrivalled growth opportunities. As an industry leader, Tata Sky is on a journey to connect millions of people across India to the best content on offer. As a new member of this journey, I am excited to be able to leverage the art and science of marketing to talk to our current and future customers in a relevant, distinctive and meaningful way.”

    Prior to Tata Sky, Anurag was Global Brand Vice Presidentwith Unilever in London. At Unilever he ledbrand strategy, innovation and communications globally for Unilever's Laundry businessfor brands such as Surf, Radiant & Skip. Anurag has 20+ years’ experience in both India and overseas.

  • DD Free Dish e-auction for vacant MPEG4 slots on 27 March

    DD Free Dish e-auction for vacant MPEG4 slots on 27 March

    MUMBAI: Doordarshan will conduct the 39th e-auction for filling up of vacant MPEG-4 slots of its FTA DTH platform Free Dish w.e.f 27 March 2019. Only satellite channels licensed by the Ministry of I&B would be allowed to participate in the e-auction.

    Bidding in the e-auction of vacant unreserved MPEG-4 slots will be for an initial period open to all genre (language) channels at an invitation reserve price of Rs 5 lakh.

    International public broadcasters licensed/registered by the Ministry of I&B can also participate in e-auction.

    “We request all those channels that could not bid for MPEG2 slots for various reasons to consider bidding for the MPEG4 slots,” Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati said.

    If required, Prasar Bharati/Doordarshan can extend e-auction to the next day or as the case may be.

    Recently the pubcaster sold 40 MPEG2 slots for Rs 395 crore.

    As shared by Prasar Bharati, the highest bid price in Bucket A+ was Rs 15.05 crore, while it was Rs 12.45 crore in Bucket A. Bucket B commanded a top bid of Rs10.95 crore. In Bucket C, which saw the toughest competition, the highest bid was Rs 8.95 crore. Bucket D saw a top bid of Rs 6.1 crore.

    After the e-auction, Vempati asserted that the language diversity on DD FreeDish has also seen an expansion with Marathi channels taking up slots.  He also added that nearly eight new channels have taken up space across various categories and genres in various languages.

  • DD Free Dish e-auction: Reserve price for MPEG4 slots fixed at Rs 5 lakh

    DD Free Dish e-auction: Reserve price for MPEG4 slots fixed at Rs 5 lakh

    MUMBAI: After recommencement of DD Free Dish e-auction, Prasar Bharati (PB) recently revealed the result where a total of 40 MPEG2 slots were successfully sold. Now, PB CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati has revealed that the reserve price for MPEG4 slots e-auction is Rs 5 lakh. He also added that the first e-auction for MPEG4 slots will be notified in a couple of days.

    “The reserve price for these MPEG4 slots is at a low invitational amount of merely Rs 5 lakh. We request all those channels that could not bid for MPEG2 slots for various reasons to consider bidding for the MPEG4 slots,” Vempati said on Twitter.

    PB CEO disclosed the same while addressing the issues raised by religious channels. Various media reports floated recently that the public broadcaster has decided to keep away from religious and devotional channels for DD Free Dish slots.  

    The reports said spiritual channels, including that of Baba Ramdev, have been seeking slots in the auctioning for quite some time. As it could open a floodgate of applicants, the broadcaster has decide to keep a safe distance.

    Vempati has taken a defensive stance saying that they have taken note of several petitions received. “Free Dish is a public platform where placement of channels happens through an open transparent e-auction process. It is the preorgative of individual channels whether to participate or not. If you feel strongly that certain channels should be on Free Dish then please write to them,” he commented.

    The new policy guideline had kept five buckets for e-auction of MPEG2 slots There is no specified bucket for spiritual or regional channels under new guidelines.

    Earlier on 15 February, the Prasar Bharati Board gave the green signal to e-auctioning of DTH slots on DD Free Dish. The e-auctioning of slots on DD Free Dish was arbitrarily called off in October 2017. Earlier, DD Free Dish would conduct the e-auction every couple of months to award vacant channel slots to private broadcasters. The last e-auction was held In July 2017.

  • DTH players eliminate network capacity fees on FTA channels

    DTH players eliminate network capacity fees on FTA channels

    MUMBAI: Major DTH players like Tata Sky, Dish TV and Sun Direct have removed the Network Capacity Fee (NCF) on free-to-air (FTA) channels above the required 100 channels, according to a report by Telecom Talk.

    Under TRAI’s new broadcast regulatory regime, the cable TV bill of users now has two components, the network capacity fee (NCF), which is Rs 130 for hundred channels and the cost of any paid channels or paid bouquets.

    Dish TV subscribers will be able to pick as many as 189 FTA channels, without paying any additional NCF — over and above the base pack charges of Rs 130 per month (excluding taxes). However, it hasn’t changed anything for the paid SD and HD channels.

    The operator now allows its subscribers to pick a range of FTA channels, without paying any additional NCF and has categorised all the available FTA channels into different packs, namely BST North with 189 channels, BST Hindi with 99 channels, BST Marathi and Gujarati with 84 channels, BST Bangla Odia with 83 channels, and BST DD Pack with 25 channels.

    Sun Direct’s website says it is offering a total of 140 channels in the back pack of Rs 130 + 18 per cent GST. The base pack also includes the 25 Doordarshan channels, which are mandatory for all cable/DTH operators to provide.

    Tata Sky is providing a limited number of channels for free beyond the designated 100.

    As per the latest framework by the Telecom and Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), customers need to pay Rs 130 to get the first 100 FTA channels. An additional network fee of Rs 20 per month is also being charged for every block of 25 paid channels.