Category: DTH Operator

Tata Skys 3D movies offering this New Years eve

MUMBAI: Tata Sky is all set to give its subscribers a special New Year’s eve gift. The direct-to-home (DTH) platform has set precedence in the space by bringing 3D movies to its subscribers. The movie lineup includes Avengers and Planes.

“As a Tata Sky promise, we bring the best in technology to our subscribers, now enabling high-picture quality 3D movies through our set-top boxes. With Indian audiences accustomed to quality entertainment and the off take of 3D movies in theatres on the rise, it is high time that audiences had the option to view their favorite 3D movies in the comfort of their homes,” said Tata Sky chief commercial officer Vikram Mehra.

The 3D movies will be showcased as a special offering for Tata Sky subscribers during this festive season.

Tata Sky has been the forefront runner in bringing cutting-edge technology to India in the pay-TV category since its launch in 2006. It has consistently innovated with offerings right from easy-to-use programming guide, to engrossing interactive services, to first ever HD PVR (personal video recorder), to remote recording feature through its mobile application. The offering will add value and entertainment quotient to its subscriber’s life.

To avail the opportunity, subscribers can log onto www.mytatasky.com and click on ‘Order Showcase’, SMS SC <Space> <movie code> to 56633, or call the Tata Sky helpline. Subscribers can also press the “SHOWCASE” button on their remote and follow the instructions.

December 19, 2013
IndiaCast UTV vs DishTV: Who really won?

MUMBAI: It’s a battle that has both warring parties claiming victory. We are referring to the IndiaCast UTV Disney vs Dish TV scrap wherein each has been taking potshots at each other on an ‘on-request channel’ scheme that the platform has been running which involves the aggregators’ channels.

Both petitioned the Telecom Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) for a resolution and judgment.

The matter was heard by the TDSAT today. IndiaCast’s pleas were:

*Declare that the ‘on request’ categorisations of IndiaCast UTV channels in its current form be declared null and void.

* Declare that the payment of monthly licence fees by DishTV be done in terms of TRAI regulations.

* Declare that the scrolls/crawls being run by DishTV on IndiaCast UTV is (sic.) absolutely illegal.

*Permanently restrain Dish TV from running any scroll in any manner whatsoever.

*Pass an ad interim ex-parte order directing Dish TV to pay licence fees to IndiaCast UTV on the basis of the number of subscribers of packages in which the aggregators channels are placed.

* Pass an ad interim order restraining Dish TV from, in any manner whatsoever switching off or blacking out the aggregator’s channels to subscribers, subscribing to the package in which the IndiaCast UTV channels exist.

DishTV’s plea was:

* IndiaCast UTV be restrained from issuing false, frivolous, and baseless alert notices to the subscribers of DishTV.

*Declare the alert notice issued by IndiaCast UTV as illegal, malafide and defamatory.

* Direct IndiaCast UTV to issue an unconditional and unqualified apology for publishing the wrong false and misleading alert notices to subscribers of DishTV.

* Direct IndiaCast UTV to issue a corrigendum in all the newspapers and channels with the same prominence where the alert notices have been published.

At the time of writing both claimed that the tribunal had ruled in their favour.

While IndiaCast UTV stated that the TDSAT has struck down the ‘on-request channel’ scheme, Dish TV said it has not, adding that it is going to continue with it – albeit with a rejoinder that it will be called an ‘a la carte on request channel scheme.’

IndiaCast UTV, on its part, has agreed to DishTV’s pleas to stop running the alert notices in newspapers and on air.

Sources in IndiaCast UTV say their fears about the scheme were that DishTV could have mis-utilised it by making its channels available in both the DTH operator’s base and other subscriber packs and also in its a la carte offerings.

If subscribers did not send an SMS confirming that they wanted the IndiaCast UTV channels, these would be dropped from their pack offerings, even as subscribers would continue paying as per earlier pack prices. Since subscribers would have unsubscribed, Dish TV would not be liable to make payments to IndiaCast UTV despite collecting the entire price for the pack (inclusive of the IndiaCast UTV channels). This, IndiaCast UTV executives feared, would lead to a loss of revenues for them.

They point out to an earlier interview in which DishTV CEO R.C. Venkateish was quoted as saying that the ‘on request channel’ scheme “is not a la carte offering but a scheme that will run on existing packs. We intend to progressively classify a number of channels as ‘on request channels’.”

DishTV’s lawyers, however, clarified with the TDSAT today that the IndiaCast UTV channels would not be offered in all the various subscription packs that the operator offers but rather as a la carte offerings from 1 January 2014. And this is exactly what the aggregator was seeking, say IndiaCast UTV sources.

Earlier agreements between DishTV and IndiaCast UTV for 22 channels in its bouquet are slated to expire on 31 December 2013, while those for another 11 are slated to expire on 31 March 2014.

DishTV sent out an official statement, which said:

“The TDSAT has disposed off the petition of IndiaCast UTV and has upheld the ‘on request DishTV’ scheme where the channels of IndiaCast UTV will be provided by DishTV to its subscribers on a la carte basis. On the petition of DishTV, the TDSAT has also directed IndiaCast UTV to stop publishing advertisements against the ‘on request channel’ scheme of DishTV. We have also been allowed to run the scrolls publishing the ‘on request channels’ scheme by mentioning that the channels will be available on a la carte basis.”

We at indiantelevision.com don’t know if we have seen the last of the exchange of fisticuffs between the two. Let’s wait and watch how things pan out in the coming days.

December 19, 2013
Dish TV-IndiaCast: TDSAT orders both to ceasefire

MUMBAI: This was one case that hardly took any time to get a judicial order. In the first hearing itself, the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has come to the conclusion that Dish TV cannot be applying its ‘on request scheme’ for IndiaCast channels. And it has ordered India’s oldest DTH operator to make all its channels either as a la carte or as packages.

The TDSAT has also asked Dish TV to change the wordings of the scroll it is running on the channels as IndiaCast had raised objections about the same. At the same time, it has also asked the aggregator to stop airing the promos and advertisements that it has been running on its channels and newspapers asking people to change to other cable TV and DTH platforms. All these need to be incorporated as soon as the official order is out.

“I don’t know what are they objecting to. ‘On request channels’ is nothing but a la carte, worded differently. When you take channels on RIO they can only be a la carte,” said a senior executive from Dish TV. “We will be changing what we are running on the scroll after looking at the words that they have objected to and what they would like it to be changed to,” he added.

As of now, Dish TV officials stated that they will not be challenging or filing any appeal against the TDSAT order.

December 19, 2013
Dish TV, IndiaCast continue to battle it out

MUMBAI: The fight between India’s oldest DTH player Dish TV and newbie aggregator IndiaCast seems to be becoming uglier. Both the parties are fighting it out ferociously, however, on the same playground – the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

It was just last week that the TDSAT dismissed Dish TV’s petition against IndiaCast asking them to come to an agreement that would allow the aggregator to give channels on Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) basis. However, IndiaCast didn’t seem to be happy with the verdict and thus with the help of newspaper ads informed people about Dish’s ‘on request channels’ scheme.

The issue took an ugly turn, when Dish reacted to it with a legal notice.

Now, IndiaCast has gone a step ahead and has filed a petition with the TDSAT seeking clarification on the terms of the RIO, specifically on the ‘on request channel’ scheme and the scrolls running on the channels from Dish TV.

The IndiaCast contention is that as per RIO agreements, channels can only be given in either as a-la-carte or in the packages. The concept of requesting channels is new and not prescribed as per terms of RIO.

“Dish TV isn’t telling people exactly what this scheme is. Also, how can the number of SMSs that it receives from ‘so-called unsubscribing’ customers be monitored and verified?” asks a source close to IndiaCast. The fear is that the operator might tweak the feedback from customers and say subscribers don’t want IndiaCast channels, and hence charge carriage fees from it.

Dish TV, on its part, isn’t taking things too lightly. While earlier it issued a legal notice to the aggregator for spreading ‘false and malafide information’ through its advertisements on TV and in newspapers, now it has threatened severe action. Now it has also moved to the TDSAT against IndiaCast for the same.

Both the cases will be heard on Thursday.

According to the ‘on request channels’ scheme, viewers will have to individually message each channel that they want to watch to Dish TV. The subscriber also can earn rewards in the form of 100 points worth Rs 100 which can be redeemed to watch ‘movies on demand’ that the DTH operator offers.

As the fight between the two gets fierce, it’s to be seen who bows down? Or, will the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) have to step in to resolve the issue?

December 17, 2013
IndiaCast issues public notice about Dish TV

MUMBAI: Dish TV subscribers might have been a wee bit surprised today when they saw an IndiaCast notice in newspapers and on their TV channels informing them about a possible channel unavailability from 1 January.

Last month Dish TV went on a hyper drive promoting its “on request channels” campaign that was designed to give TV consumers freedom of choice and give them the option of taking up a flexible package and allow India’s oldest DTH operator to generate savings.

As part of that scheme (which is still going on), Dish TV subscribers need to SMS or telephone its call centre and opt for the IndiaCast channels they want. Subscribers who choose not to SMS or choose to unrequest the IndiaCast channels have a reward waiting for them in the form of 100 bonus points (Rs 100) per unrequested channel, which they can redeem against the movies on demand service that Dish TV is offering.

The DTH operator had said that it is looking at increasing revenues and reducing content costs over a period of time. The initiative of knowing what channels consumers want would help it bring down satellite transponder and bandwidth consumption costs as it would help it decide which channels it can take off. This unbundling of packages would be a win-win situation for itself as well as subscribers.

Now, IndiaCast has been running TV promos on all its channels and has also issued a public notice on the same issue in select newspapers. The newspaper notice has cautioned general TV viewers who are subscribers of Dish TV “that several IndiaCast channels might not get carried on Dish TV from 1 January 2014 and that Dish TV would be offering its movies-on-demand instead.”

In the notice, IndiaCast has asked Dish TV subscribers to call up the DTH operator’s call centres if they want these channels to be included in their packages. Additionally, it has informed subscribers that alternatively they can get a “new connection from service providers such as Tata Sky, Airtel, Videocon, Hathway, DEN and InCable.”

IndiaCast, reportedly, has five different agreements with Dish TV for TV18-Viacom18, Disney, UTV, Eenadu and HD channels. Out of these, three deals namely TV18-Viacom18, Disney and UTV are slated for renewal on 1 January 2014.

The channels that are mentioned in the advertisement – Colors, CNBC TV 18, MTV, CNN IBN, Bindass, Nick, IBN7, CNBC Awaaz, UTV Movies, History TV, Disney, Hungama, Sonic, Disney XD, UTV Action, Comedy Central, VH1, UTV World Movies, Nick Jr, Disney Junior and IBN Lokmat are a part of the three deals coming for renewal.

Earlier this week, a case filed in The Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) by Dish TV came up for hearing in which it claimed that IndiaCast was refusing to provide signals to the DTH provider on account of the carriage fees it was charging the aggregator. The case was dismissed and a settlement was reached between the two that Dish TV will get the channels on a reference interconnect order (RIO) basis.

December 13, 2013
Dish TV threatens IndiaCast with legal action

MUMBAI: The Dish TV vs IndiaCast battle has just taken an ugly turn. India’s oldest DTH operator has fired a salvo at the aggregator by issuing a statement that claims that it has issued a legal notice to it for “the false and malafide advertisement that it issued today.”

It has asked IndiaCast to cease and desist from “spreading false and malafide information” regarding channels on DishTV.

“All necessary steps including criminal and civil actions against Indiacast UTV and its functionaries are being contemplated,” says a Dish TV spokesperson.

However, an IndiaCast spokesperson said that they haven’t yet received any notice from Dish TV.

Readers may recollect that leading Indian newspapers today carried a public notice from IndiaCast stating that channels it distributes might be discontinued from Dish TV subscribers’ packages from 1 January and replaced with movies on demand unless customers message or call the DTH operator clearly saying they wanted to continue receiving them. The ads asked them to call up Dish TV or in the alternative subscribe to another cable TV or DTH service. Promos along the same lines have also been running on all the IndiaCast channels.

IndiaCast had issued the ad keeping in mind that DishTV is running an “on-request channel” campaign which will see channels being unsubscribed unless subscribers opt for them. The DTH operator is also rewarding subscribers with points if they choose to unsubscribe from IndiaCast channels which they can use to watch movies.

The channels that are mentioned in the IndiaCast notice include: Colors, CNBC TV 18, MTV, CNN IBN, Bindass, Nick, IBN7, CNBC Awaaz, UTV Movies, History TV, Disney, Hungama, Sonic, Disney XD, UTV Action, Comedy Central, VH1, UTV World Movies, Nick Jr, Disney Junior and IBN Lokmat.

December 13, 2013
No DTH JV for content and carriage fees

MUMBAI: Is a joint venture between three DTH players – DishTV, Airtel, and Videocon2h – as erroneously and amateurishly reported recently really on the cards? The purpose behind the joint venture – it was reported – was to bring content costs down and carriage revenues up for the three DTH players.

“The fact of the matter is that several discussions and proposals are mooted by those in the ecosystem,” says an observer close to the discussions. “Indeed around six months ago the joint venture proposal was floated and some meetings were held. But it was being pushed by one player and the rest were just examining whether it was feasible and what were its merits and demerits. No concrete steps were taken to give it any shape or form.”

Says a senior executive at one of the three DTH players: “The talks simply died down and no further moves were made in that direction. To the best of my knowledge it seems to have been put on the back burner – at least for now.”

Another executive points out that if the three were in agreement on this score, then why did Dish TV break away and announce its carriage fee rate card recently? “If one goes by current indications, the other two are being cautious on the joint venture proposal,” says a media observer.

So you heard it here first: the DTH joint venture was only a proposal, which seems to have fizzled out – at least for now.

December 4, 2013
DD Direct+ freshens up as FREEDISH

MUMBAI: Direct to home TV (DTH) subscribers are in for a bonanza. And it’s coming courtesy the government-owned Doordarshan which has rechristened its free DTH service DD Direct+ as FREEDISH. Not just that. It is all set to get a makeover ? la its private sector DTH cousins and launch snazzy call centres. There’s more: a new package of 120 channels which will require activation of a new range of consumer set top boxes (STBs) is being introduced.

DD sources say that the work contract for the same has already been finalised and the equipment is currently being shipped. “We currently have 17 million active subscribers and expect to add a million subscribers per month once we start the 120 channel STB service,” says a DD official.

The pubcasters’ current 59 channel STBs cost Rs 1200, while the 120 channel STBs are expected to be priced at Rs 1400. The 59 channels include 21 DD channels and 38 other channels offering a wide variety of entertainment, musical, devotional, educational, news, international channels.

“We are now working towards offering 120 channels free of cost for a lifetime to DTH consumers,” he adds.

So what happens to the old STBs? “Well, if the existing customers want to switch to 120 channel STB, they will have to buy the new one,” says the official.

DD is also deviating from the past as subscribers to its FREEDISH 120 channel service will need activation of their STBs.

As a consequence, the pubcaster hopes it will have a better handle on data relating to its subscribers. “We were unhappy with the way we were functioning. While earlier we were unorganised, the whole idea of introducing the service is to streamline the whole process,” says the official.

Currently, seven international makers are supplying the STBs to DD and the plan is to bring in new ones into its fold. “We have already received several bids from international and national players,” informs the DD official. Local STB manufacturers will be authorised only after their products comply with BIS specifications.

“Until now, customers could only buy the STBs through local shopkeepers. Now we are setting up call centres to interact with our customers. These call centres will be set up according to our guidelines, but at the STB manufacturer’s expense,” the interested parties can approach us for the same,” says the official.

The DTH operator says the service will continue to beam off INSAT 4B as it has enough capacity for the additional channels it is offering.

While the new name doesn’t feature on the website as yet, the trademark for the new name has already been registered.

It is to be noted that DD had recently conducted an e-auction for placement of private channels on its DTH platform after the Prasar Bharati Board approved it.

“The new system of e-auctioning, in which auctioning was done for 28 channel slots, has yielded positive results. In comparison to previous years e-auctioning, where the average price per channel for 28 channels auctioned was Rs 2.73 crore, in the present year the average price has risen sharply to Rs 3.7 crore, a growth of nearly Rs 1 crore per channel,” states a report sent by DD.

November 23, 2013
Dish TV flexes muscles; to launch consumer campaign

MUMBAI: Dish TV subscribers will find a ticker running on their TV screens when they tune in tomorrow morning. The Direct-To-Home (DTH) player begins a campaign, starting 15 November, called ‘On Request Channels.’ The move, it says, is to give TV consumers a freedom of choice.

With this, Dish TV says it aims to provide consumers a flexible package and savings by offering channels ‘on request only basis’.

Currently, the DTH provider has seven different packages for subscribers in north India and eight different packages for south Indian subscribers with a combination of different channels.

Now, Dish TV proposes to classify most channels as ‘On Request Channels.’ The subscribers will have several weeks to decide and place their request.

Once a subscriber places a request to unsubscribe to a particular channel or channels, he/she will stop receiving them from the cut-off date, Dish TV states. These subscribers will be given 100 bonus points (worth Rs 100) for each unrequested channel. The points can be used to purchase movies-on-demand and selected a la carte channels of their choice.

Says Dish TV India CEO R.C Venkateish: “The current trend from media aggregators is to force-bundle all kinds of unwanted channels into packages and the customer is forced to receive numerous channels that he/ she may never watch or appreciate. The idea is to have viewers watch and opt for channels or content that they like and our new offer gives them just that. The bonus point here is that they can save as well.”

The DTH operator, over a period of time, expects content costs to come down significantly, with each subscriber being served only those channels that he or she wants to watch. The DTH player wants to pass down the benefits to its consumers, it says.

The Jawahar Goel run-DTH player says channels that want to reach out to subscribers despite being unrequested will need to pay a carriage fee to compensate for the extra bandwidth consumption.

Dish TV, says it has also circulated a rate card to all broadcasters for carriage services as well as a menu of offerings for different levels of service including channel numbers.
The move has got the aggregators’ ire despite it being pitched as a pro-consumer offering. “It will only confuse consumers. Which consumer has the time to choose channels?” says an aggregator on condition of anonymity.

He further adds that Dish TV is under pressure with five other DTH players competing in the space and it is resorting to gimmicks.

“Another reason for this could be that it is looking at extracting more carriage fees from the broadcasters,” he says. “It could be posturing for all you know as it may be laying the ground to negotiate better when the time comes to renew deals with aggregators.”

The buzz is that the IndiaCast bouquet of channels is likely to be listed in the ticker which begins on 15 November. IndiaCast group COO Gaurav Gandhi was surprised when indiantelevision.com called him up. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” he said. “As far as we are concerned, we have a very good relationship with Dish TV. We have four ongoing deals with them, right now. We will have to see how it plays out.”

November 14, 2013
Tata Sky launches 9X Jhakaas for its subscribers

MUMBAI: Tata Sky has added one more channel to its bouquet. 9X Jhakaas, the Marathi music channel of 9X Media will now feature on number 798 for Tata Sky’s eight million subscribers.

“The launch of the channel 9X Jhakaas on Tata Sky is all about striking the right chord with our Marathi subscribers. Our commitment has always been to offer the best blend of channels. As music is the universal language, this channel will complement others in our channel portfolio,” said Tata Sky vice president-content Mukund Sharma.

Customers can subscribe to the channel by sending an SMS <9xjh> to 56633 from their registered telephone number (RTN).

Speaking about this development 9X Media EVP and new business head Punit Pandey said, “We are delighted to announce that Tata Sky subscribers can now enjoy nonstop hit Marathi music and humorous short format shows round the clock on 9X Jhakaas. We hope that our viewers on Tata Sky will also enjoy our new show – Jhakaas Khaas and the popular programming Lai Bhari which gives a great insight into the Marathi Film and Music industry.”

November 11, 2013