ITV

Category: DTH Operator

  • Tata Sky makes choosing new packs a child’splay

    Tata Sky makes choosing new packs a child’splay

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky, India’s leading content distribution platform launched their subscriber communication campaign to educate subscribers about the seamless process of changing packs according to the new pricing regime. The campaign #Ab123kardaalatohlifejingalalais a series of 3 ad films that highlighthow Tata Sky makes choosing subscribers’ favourite channels a child’s play that can be accomplished in steps 1,2,3.

    The filmsdraw similarities betweenthetasks for toddlersto changing your channel packs both of which are perceived as cumbersome. Through the toddlers in the ad film, Tata Sky explains how it is a matter of just 3 simple steps to choose packs under the new pricing regime. 

    1 – Select Pack
    2 – Match Budget
    3- Confirm Pack

    The first ad has a toddler in a walker, having fun spinning around. The baby explains how spinning around is fun but also can be a headache but choosing your favourite packs are not at all a headache. In fact, it is as simple as steps 1,2,3 on her mobile. 

    The second ad has a toddler eating breakfast with ‘kaddu’ pumpkin puree all over his face. The baby grumbles how adults are lucky as they can choose their own food and their favourite channels & packs by simply following the 1,2,3, steps on the Tata Sky Mobile App. 

    The third film has a baby in diaper holding the rail of her cradle with a troubled expression. She then is relived when she says “It’s done (Ho Gaya). Now its diaper changing time. It is also time for you all to select your channels & packs”. After a brief false alarm on passing just gas, the baby continues to explain how after the simple steps of 1,2,3. She urges you to take help from their nearest dealer or visit the Tata Sky Mobile App. 

    Sukesh Nayak, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy India – Westsaid, "Tata Sky has always endeavoured to deliver quality entertainment in a simple manner. So, when the recent ruling change with respect to channel packs and price was announced, we ensured the process was as easy as child’s play for all Tata Sky subscribers. The creative idea was literally built on the product promise."

  • Dish TV reiterates its optimism on future outlook as Essel Group arrives at an understanding with lenders

    Dish TV reiterates its optimism on future outlook as Essel Group arrives at an understanding with lenders

    MUMBAI: Multi-faceted business conglomerate Essel Group’s management has successfully arrived at an understanding with lenders which are having pledge on shares held by the promoters.

    In view of the sensitive situation triggered due to the steep fall of the stock price of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited and Dish TV India Limited, a detailed meeting of the Essel Group Promoters with the lending entities comprising of Mutual Funds, NBFCs and Banks was conducted.

    Speaking on the development, Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra said, “I am pleased to share that we have achieved an understanding with lenders. We have always valued their immense trust and faith shown in us and today’s positive and progressive outcome of the meeting, is a true example of the same. I am very positive, that we will continue to take such positive steps in rising up from the current challenging times, with support of all stakeholders.”

    In the meeting, the lenders further showcased their belief in the intrinsic value of Zee Entertainment and Dish TV India Limited, resulting into the following aspects:

    · There will not be any event of default declared due to the steep fall in price.

    · As a result of the above, there will be synergy and co-operation, amongst lenders leading to a unified approach.

    · Lenders drew comfort from reiteration by the promoters for a speedy resolution through a strategic sale in a time bound manner.

    Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC CEO A. Balasubramanian said, “We have always believed in the intrinsic value of Zee Entertainment and most above, the sheer value system with which its promoters function. I am very glad with the outcome of the meeting, which enabled us to arrive at a consensus in the interest of all stakeholders.”

    Dish TV India CMD Jawahar Goel said, “I would like to reiterate that the merger of Videocon D2H with Dish TV has provided immense opportunity and is a great strategic fit. The synergies derived out of the merged business will significantly strengthen the results of our business. This is despite the fact that the merger transaction has been financially stretching for the promoters.”

  • Tata Sky makes choosing packs as simple as 1-2-3

    Tata Sky makes choosing packs as simple as 1-2-3

    MUMBAI: To ensure smooth and seamless transition, Tata Sky has created simple process of choosing packs as per the new pricing regime. Tata Sky has gone live with their communication #Ab123kardaalatohlifejingalala.

    Anad films informing the new tariff and its step to choose the new tariff has gone live across all platforms such as Tata Sky website, Tata Sky Mobile App,default Ch.100– an informative service on STB and through IVR message on call. Furthermore, the information film is live on Channel 999 and on YouTube. Additionally, a step by step information guide has been actively shared on the official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram platforms to explain the simple and easy process of creating suitable packs. 

    To ensure the process of choosing the channel & packs is as easy as Steps 1-2-3 for the subscriber they are now displaying tariffs on EPG for each channel. Over 2 lac dealers and vendors are have been educated on how to change a customer’s tariff. 

    Click on: https://www.mytatasky.com/web/portal/homeunauth OR Download the Tata Sky Mobile App for the Android or Google Play Store or visit your nearest Tata Sky dealer.

    Please click below for the DIY and ad films:

    1. Tata Sky Rate Changes | TRAI Regulations with effect from 31st January (Information Film)
    2. Tata Sky | New Rules. Your Choice | Walker
    3. Tata Sky | New Rules. Your Choice | Kaddu
    4. Tata Sky | New Rules. Your Choice | Diaper

  • Prasar Bharati fills up 4 vacant MPEG-2 slots on DD FreeDish

    Prasar Bharati fills up 4 vacant MPEG-2 slots on DD FreeDish

    MUMBAI: Prasar Bharati-led free direct-to-home (DTH) service DD FreeDish has allocated MPEG-2 slots to four channels. The four slots have been allocated to Aajtak Tej, Republic Bharat, Surya Samachar and Kushboo Bangla. The first three channels are from the news category with Republic Bharat to launch on 26 January, while the fourth is a Bengali GEC.

    “Based on the applications received for interim placement of channels on currently vacant MPEG-2 slots on DD FreeDish on pro-rata basis, 4 slots have been allocated to Aajtak Tej (news), Republic Bharat (news), Surya Samachar (news) and Kushboo Bangla (Bengali GEC),” Prasar Bharati informed on Twitter.

    The public broadcaster invited applications for interim placement of channels on currently vacant MPEG-2 slots on DD FreeDish on pro-rata basis for the period 26 January 2019 to 28 February 2019. Interested private satellite TV channels were requested to submit their applications along with all requite documents and demand drafts/fee on or before 24 January latest by 12 pm.

    “Good to see a Bengali GEC channel take up a slot on DD FreeDish. Gives us much hope that the upcoming eAuction next month will expand regional/language diversity on DD Free Dish taking it beyond the Hindi belt,” Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati commented.

    Earlier this month, DD Free Dish e-auctions were resumed under a revised policy. Vempati said e-auctions will be based on a differential pricing to be determined by the genre or language of channels. He also said a key consideration of the new policy was to increase the diversity of content available on DD Free Dish and to expand its reach across India especially within the non-Hindi speaking states.

    The e-auction of slots  on DD Free Dish was arbitrarily called off in 2017 while the last e-auction of DD Free Dish took place in July 2017. Earlier, DD Free Dish used to hold e-auctions once every couple of months to award vacant channel slots to private broadcasters.

  • Tata Sky reveals new channel prices after TRAI’s show-cause notice

    Tata Sky reveals new channel prices after TRAI’s show-cause notice

    MUMBAI: Leading direct to home (DTH) operator Tata Sky on Thursday finally unveiled the new pricing of channels and packs after it was served a show-cause notice by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). With just a week for the new tariff order to kick in Tata Sky’s decision to announce its pricing comes as a relief to consumers, some of whom had even complained about the same to the TRAI.

    According to a report by news agency PTI, TRAI's show-cause notice said, "Tata Sky has failed to provide options to its 17.7 million subscribers in compliance with the new framework to exercise their choices for TV channels. Tata Sky has put its subscribers in a situation of great difficulty despite no fault of theirs by not complying with the provisions of the new regulations and the tariff order.”

    Despite the delay in announcing channel prices, Tata Sky MD and CEO Harit Nagpal is confident that his team can complete the tricky task of implementing the new norms within a relatively short span of time.

    “Tata Sky has always been compliant to regulatory requirements. We have gone live with our modes of communication across the Tata Sky website, Tata Sky mobile app and also equipped the dealers that subscribers can reach out to. We were confident that we would be able to complete the task in 1 week’s time. hence we used this time to create a seamless and smooth transition for all our subscribers. We have ensured that choosing channels and packs is as easy as 1, 2, 3 for any subscriber,” the veteran executive said.

    The DTH operator has come up with a number of packs that will serve consumers of different interests. The packs not only focus on several genres like entertainment, news, sports, and lifestyle but also on all the regions across the country. Even in terms of pricing, the packs provided by the DTH operator offers a wide variety. Apart from its own packages, Tata Sky has also updated the information about broadcasters’ packages and price of the channels available on a-la-carte basis.

    For making the transition easier for its subscribers, a dedicated pack selection portal has also been provided on the website. Users need to log in via their registered mobile number or subscriber ID, post which they can exercise the options.

    The DTH operator has also notified that users with long duration packs will be migrated to monthly packs starting 1 February and the remaining balance will be credited to their Tata Sky account.

    Tata Sky is currently embroiled in a legal battle, of which Bharti Telemedia-owned Airtel Digital TV and Sun Direct are a part, with the TRAI in the Delhi High Court. Unlike the position Star India had adopted, wherein it questioned the regulatory powers of TRAI, the matter in the Delhi HC questions the regulator’s power to wipe out deals that operators enter into to fix commissions and rates for customers. The court is likely to pronounce its verdict in the matter on 28 January.

    In a press release issued by the TRAI on Thursday, it had singled out one DTH operator for not providing options to its subscribers to exercise their choices. The press note also mentioned that the said DTH operator had assured in writing that it would comply with the new regulatory framework.

    TRAI wrote to all broadcasters and DPOs, asking them to comply by the new regulatory framework within the stipulated time. The regulator has also revealed that 40 per cent of consumers have exercised their option of selecting TV channels under the new tariff order.

  • 38th DD Free Dish e-auction on 11 February: Key highlights of revised policy

    38th DD Free Dish e-auction on 11 February: Key highlights of revised policy

    MUMBAI: The 38th DD Free Dish e-auction for 54 vacant MPEG-2 slots will be held from 11 February. The Prasar Bharati Board on Tuesday gave a green signal to e-auctioning of DTH slots on DD Free Dish. The public broadcaster will resume the allocation of slots based on a revised policy, confirmed Prasar Bharati (PB) CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati. He thanked the Board, MIB secretary Amit Khare and minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore for their support.

    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.

    With the pubcaster set to kick-start the much-awaited e-auctions, here are the key highlights of the revised policy:

    · The e-auctions will be based on a differential pricing to be determined by the genre (language) of channels. Private broadcasters desirous of carriage on DD Free Dish will have to declare the same to be eligible to bid in e-auctions.

    · To lower the entry barrier for genres (languages) that are currently under-represented on DD Free Dish the differential pricing for slots is split into five disparate buckets as opposed to the 2 buckets based on which e-auctions were previously held.

    · Different genres (languages) have been grouped within these five buckets with differential reserve pricing for slots in respective buckets.

    · To promote the new DD Free Dish authorized set top boxes, the new policy also envisages invitational pricing for channels to also take up MPEG4 slots in addition to the existing MPEG2 slots.

    · The new policy also makes it attractive for channels from a cash flow standpoint through better payment terms. This will ease the burden on channels while lowering the entry barrier for channels.

    According to the PB CEO, a key consideration factored in by the new policy was to increase the diversity of content available on DD Free Dish and to expand its reach across India especially within the non-Hindi speaking states.

    The government-owned DTH platform has had a good run since its launch and is now desired beyond rural areas as well. According to industry experts, the DTH platform now has close to 30 mn subscribers.

    While there are numerous advantages of Free Dish, some private broadcasters feel it offer a threat to distribution platform operators (DPOs).

  • TATA Sky ShortsTV acquires much acclaimed short films from Terribly Tiny Tales

    TATA Sky ShortsTV acquires much acclaimed short films from Terribly Tiny Tales

    MUMBAI: TATA Sky ShortsTV, the world’s only TV channel dedicated to short films, has acquired 18 shorts from Terribly Tiny Tales (TTT).

    The service features the best short movies from India and around the world, including hours of award-winning movies. This acquisition will further bolster ShortsTV’s repertoire of Indian shorts and offer an opportunity for the burgeoning audience of short films in India to enjoy some of the commended films such as ‘Kheer’ and ‘El’ayichi’, among others, on television for the first time.

    Sharing details on the same, Mr. Carter Pilcher, Chief Executive of Shorts International Ltd said, “TTT is one of India's largest and most celebrated storytelling platforms and we are delighted to partner with them. Each film is a simply narrated beautiful story and I am confident that they will receive a warm response from our audience.”

    He further added, “We are the largest curator of short form content in the world and aim to help viewers easily find the best short movies by packaging them in a viewer-friendly manner and a commercial free environment. This acquisition of films from TTT is a step towards our endeavour to feature the best short films from India on our service.”

    Anuj Gosalia, CEO of Terribly Tiny Tales said, "Partnering with ShortsTV is a great way for TTT to bring our memorable short stories to a new and relevant audience. ShortsTV is a reputed curator of the world’s finest shorts and for our films to find a place in their catalogue is a win for the stories we choose to tell. We see this as a long standing and meaningful partnership as we move ahead."

    Watch ‘Kheer’, starring Anumpam Kher on Monday 14 January at 21:00; ‘Deuce’, starring Mandira Bedi on Monday 21 January at 21:00; and ‘El’ayichi, starring Nimrat Kaur on Monday 28 January at 21:00. All on TATA SKY ShortsTV – channel HD 112 and SD 113.

    About ShortsTV:

    · ShortsTV is operated by Shorts International Ltd, the world’s leading short movie entertainment company

    · With over 5,000 titles, Shorts International has the world’s largest library of shorts available on TV, online and in theatres, including award-winning and star-studded live action, animated and documentary shorts from around the world

    · ShortsTV is the world’s only 24/7 HD TV channel dedicated to short movies. It is available in approximately 70 million households across the US, India, Latin America, the Netherlands, Belgium and Serbia

    · In 2018, ShortsTV launched the ShortsTV App which marries the linear ShortsTV feed with the functionality of the Internet, at the click of a button on a viewer’s remote control. Using advanced machine-learning algorithm technology, the ShortsTV App enables viewers to either watch TV or to create, control and personalize their own TV channel, engineered to their desired genres or moods

    · Online, ShortsTV offers hundreds of the world’s best independent shorts for download on iTunes in 92 countries, as well as on Amazon Instant Video (UK, US and Germany), Google Play (US and Canada) and Verizon and Frontier (US)

    · Since 2006, Shorts International has exclusively presented the ‘Oscar Nominated Short Films’ theatrical release in cinemas across the US, South America, Europe, Australia and South Africa

    · Shorts International is headquartered in London, England with offices in Los Angeles and Mumbai. The company is led by Carter Pilcher, Chief Executive, and is owned by Shorts Entertainment Holdings, with AMC Networks as a significant minority shareholder

  • IndiaCast issues disconnection notice to Independent TV

    IndiaCast issues disconnection notice to Independent TV

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 and TV18’s distribution arm IndiaCast has issued a disconnection notice to direct-to-home operator (DTH) Independent TV (Reliance Big TV) over non-payment of subscription fees.

    IndiaCast, which also distributes Eenadu Television channels in India barring the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, intends to yank off all its channels from the operator within three weeks of the notice, which has been published in a Hindi daily.

    “This is to inform all the subscribers of Reliance Big TV/Independent TV that some or all channels of Viacom18 and ETV Network will be shut down after 3 weeks starting from the issue date of public notice because of unpaid dues,” the notice says.

    In case the two parties fail to resolve the dispute, Independent TV consumers could miss out on channels like ETV, ETV Plus, ETV, Life, ETV Cinema, ETV Abhiruchi, ETV Telangana and ETV Andhra Pradesh, CNBC TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNN News18, News18 India, News18 Tamil Nadu, News18 Lokmat, History channel, FYI TV18, News18 Kerala, MTV, Colors, Rishtey, Nick, Vh1, Sonic, Comedy Central, Colors Infinity, MTV Beats, Rishtey Cineplex, Colors Super, Colors HD, MTV Beats HD, Colors Gujarati, Colors Marathi, Colors Bangla, Colors Kannada, Colors Odia, News18 Uttar Pradesh Uttaranchal, News18 MP Chhattisgarh, News18 Rajasthan, News18 Urdu, News18 Bihar Jharkhand, News18 Kannada and Colors Tamil.

    In accordance with the TRAI’s tariff order, IndiaCast recently bundled the networks’ 57 channels (42 SD and 15 HD) in three packs – budget, value and family. The networks have also introduced 10 channel bundles, in SD and HD versions, mapped to its markets (Hindi, North East, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bengal, Maharashtra, Orissa, Telugu and Tamil) to allow the consumer to choose from.

  • DTH subscriber growth see-saws in three quarters of 2018

    DTH subscriber growth see-saws in three quarters of 2018

    BENGALURU: Growth of direct to home (DTH) subscriber base of private players in India was the slowest over the last five years for the nine month period ended 30 September 2018 (TQY 2018, TQY period, three quarters of the year under review) as per Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The good news was that the quarter ended 30 June 2108 (Jun-18, last or previous quarter) saw a reversal of fortunes. From a loss of about 30,000 (0.003 crore, 0.3 million, 0.3 lakh) subscribers in the quarter ended 31 March 2018 (Mar-18), DTH subscriber growth was positive 18.4 lakh (0.184 crore, 1.84 million) for the quarter ended 30 June 2018 (Jun-18). However, in the case of the quarter ended 30 September 2018 (Sep-18), subscriber growth has once again nose-dived to just 8,000 subscriber additions. As a matter of fact, the industry has faced one of the worst TQY periods – subscriber growth in TQY-18 was just 1,89,000 (0.0189 crore, 0.189 million) as compared to 3,44,000 (0.0344 crore, 0.344 million) in TQY-17 and 5,92,000 (0.0592 crore, 0.592 million) in TQY-16.

    The figure below shows a q-o-q growth of DTH subscribers between the period Mar-16 and Sep-18.It may be noted that Mar-16 growth of 25.5 lakh (0.255 crore, 2.55 million) is with respect to Dec-15.

    According to TRAI data, the overall private DTH active subscriber base grew by 0.419 crore or 4.19 million (7.8 percent) in calendar year (CY 2017) to 6.756 crore or 67.56 million from 6.256 crore or 62.65 million in CY 2016. Comparatively, in 2016, the overall private DTH active subscriber base grew by 6.67 million or 0.667 crore (11.9 percent) from 55.98 million or 5.598 crore in CY- 2015.

    Please refer to the figure below for the DTH subscriber numbers as per TRAI data:

    The merger between Dish TV and Videocon d2h that was effective since October 2018 has created the largest DTH services company in India and the second largest globally in terms of number of active subscribers. Please refer to the three figures below for approximate market share of the private DTH players in India in CY 2017, CY 2017 and CY 2018:

    It must also be mentioned that the government’s FreeDish DTH service is the largest DTH player by far in terms of subscribers with an estimated 22 million or 2.2 crore subscribers in 2016 as per the KPMG-FICCI Indian Media and Entertainment Industry Report 2017 (KPMG-FICCI M&E Report 2017) titled Media for the Masse: The Future Unfolds. It must however be noted that an exact number for registered or active subscribers is not available since this is a free DTH service. Also, the merger of Videocon d2h with Dish TV will create the largest private television carriage player in India and quite likely the second largest in the world, be it cable, internet television or DTH or any other.

  • QYOU Media joins hands with Airtel Digital TV

    QYOU Media joins hands with Airtel Digital TV

    MUMBAI: QYOU Media has announced that it has partnered with Airtel Digital TV, the DTH arm of Bharti Airtel (Airtel), to bring The Q India’s 24/7 linear stream of digital first content to Indian homes. Airtel Digital TV customers can now consume The Q India’s content that has been curated from top creators in the region, as part of their monthly DTH pack.

    With the average Indian consumer increasingly watching short-form video content on social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook each month, there is growing opportunity to engage customers with short form content on a regular basis. Airtel Digital TV, which reaches over 14 million homes across India, is bringing The Q India to its platform to leverage this trend. The Q India will be available on channel number#125 on Airtel digital TV and will be broadcast in Hindi.

    Bharti Airtel director – DTH and CEO Sunil Taldar said, “We are constantly innovating to add greater value for customers and enhance their TV experience on our platform. We are always working towards bringing new content and relevant programming for our customers. With this partnership with QYOU Media, we aim to bring the growing trend of short form video consumption to homes on their TV.”

    With this partnership, The Q India will continue to expand the viewership reach for its premium content coming from India’s leading digital content creators. The Q India is a 24/7 linear service stream of premium curated content that launched in December 2017 and is aimed at Young Indians (20-30 years). The service has established content partnerships that include some of the most watched and influential digital content creators in India. Content featuring The Q India include the popular web-series; Official Chukyagiri, What The Folks and Being Indian as well as curated episodes from leading digital programs in India, including: 101 India, Pocket Aces, Comic Wallah and BLUSH.

    The Q India GM and co-founder Sunder Aaron said, “Young Indians have been lacking a general entertainment brand or service that speaks directly to them. Our mission at The Q India is to address this need with a powerfully relevant service proposition that is entirely unique in proposition, programming the best Indian video content from digital creators who are streaming across platforms. We are delighted to join Airtel, and happy that both platform and advertising partners are beginning to recognise the potential The Q India offers them to reach millions of millennial and gen Z digital savvy viewers in their sub base who are now able to enjoy India’s best digital content through The Q India service.”