ITV

Category: DTH Services

  • Videocon d2h adds two new Kannada channels

    Videocon d2h adds two new Kannada channels

    MUMBAI: Direct to home (DTH) operator Videocon d2h has added two new Kannada channels: Raj News Kannada and Raj Musix Kannada.

     

    While Raj News aims to provide local news more accurately by establishing bureaus in every district of Karnataka, Raj Musix is a Kannada speciality music television channel from the Raj Group airing multi lingual content.

     

    Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot said, “We want to offer the whole gamut of channels and services empowering the consumer to opt for his preferred choice of language. We will continue to focus on strengthening our regional content offering, thus keeping us at the forefront.”

     

    Videocon d2h will offer Raj News Kannada and Raj Musix on LCN 691 and 673 respectively.

     

    Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera said, “We believe in delivering the best to our customers and are hopeful of achieving better penetration, through the addition of these channels in the interior regions of Karnataka, where the appetite for regional content is much more. Redefining the entertainment quotient with an array of channels and services is our focus area and we will be adding many more channels soon.”

  • Videocon d2h unveils educational TV initiative for kids

    Videocon d2h unveils educational TV initiative for kids

    MUMBAI: Videocon d2h has unveiled a new initiative aimed at preschool and elementary school aged children. The company has launched Smart Services, a value-added bouquet of learning activities and games available exclusively to Videocon d2h subscribers. This banner includes Smart Learning, Smart Kids and Smart Games, all available on subscription basis.

     

    Smart Learning, targeting school aged children under 14, will broadcast science videos and interactive ways to learn English. Smart Kids will cater to toddlers and kindergarten kids with nursery rhymes and stories. Each of Videocon d2h’s Smart Services will be offered at a subscription rate of Rs 45 per month.

     

    In addition, one more value-added service is expected to launch soon for school going children. Called Smart Education, it will also feature the educational curriculum of various boards.

     

    “We strive to provide the best of education based entertainment to our subscribers, especially our young audience,” said Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot. “Keeping this in mind, we have launched the SMART Services bouquet, our learning based entertainment content.  The content is specially designed and handpicked to provide the best of learning to across all ages,” Dhoot added.

     

    Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera asserted, “Videocon d2h is launching its Smart Services offering to capture the imaginations of kids while helping them learn. The rich content is designed to help change the TV viewing of children to a learning viewing that brings joy and fun to children through stories and easy-to-comprehend videos.”

  • Sandesh News hops on Videocon d2h

    Sandesh News hops on Videocon d2h

    MUMBAI: Direct to home (DTH) operator Videocon d2h, has added Gujarati regional news channel Sandesh News on its platform. Sandesh News is a 24/7 news and current affairs channel.  With this, Videocon d2h now has eight Gujarati channels and services.

     

    Videocon d2h offers 500 channels and services and host of regional channels. Sandesh News is available on the d2h platform on LCN 942.  

     

    Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot said, “Addition of this new channel Sandesh News reconfirms our endeavour to add the best of regional channels, catering to our ever growing subscriber base.  We look forward to provide every subscriber with a choice of selecting their favourite channels from our vast array of channels and services, thus keeping us at the forefront.”

     

    Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera added, “Every new channel added on our platform is a valuable addition to our regional content.  This addition of Sandesh News will further encourage viewers to opt for a variety of content. Redefining the entertainment quotient with an array of channels and services is our focus area and we will be adding many more channels soon.”

  • Videocon d2h ups HD fare; looks to offer 50 channels

    Videocon d2h ups HD fare; looks to offer 50 channels

    MUMBAI: Direct to home (DTH) player Videocon d2h has strengthened its bouquet of HD channels and services. With the addition of TLC HD channel, the platform now offers 35 HD channels and services. Moreover, with strong demand for high definition content, Videocon d2h is looking at upping its HD offering to 50 channels and services soon.

     

    The 35 HD channels and services available on Videocon d2h include India’s first and only 4K Ultra HD DTH channel. With flat panel TVs being widely accepted and its consumption increasing, the time is ideal for increasing the number of HD channels.

     

    Videocon d2h executive director Saurabh Dhoot said, “We at Videocon d2h believe in giving our viewers the finest quality content to transform their television viewing experience. The rich quality video of HD channels makes viewing a delight and it is our honest endeavour to provide maximum content in HD. TV viewing experience in India is set for an upgrade and Videocon d2h is ready for the same with its innovative technology and quality services.”

     

    Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera added, “Videocon d2h believes in offering its customers the most premium content. With 35 HD channels & services, we are working towards delivering more than expected. Our subscribers can enjoy a wide range of high-definition channels of various genres like sports, movies, entertainment, infotainment, and music. This promise of giving the best channels and services across genres has built trust for Videocon d2h.”

  • Tata Sky taps IBM to launch new mobile solutions

    Tata Sky taps IBM to launch new mobile solutions

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky has partnered with IBM to launch new mobile solutions that will enable it to reach new markets, and improve customer service and responsiveness for its 14 million subscribers across the country.

     

    With the IBM MobileFirst Platform, Tata Sky can securely integrate customer and enterprise data and launch new apps to spur growth, especially in rural markets. For example, the new mSales app helps dealers and distributors quickly respond to customer inquiries, track existing accounts and onboard new subscribers. Access to mobile capabilities that enable more efficient customer service is especially important in rural areas where there is often limited access to laptops or reliable Internet connectivity.

     

    According to a market study by Hong Kong-based research firm Media Partners Asia, the DTH active subscriber base in India will increase from 37 million in 2013 to 60 million by 2018 and 75 million by 2023. By launching innovative mobile solutions for its 300,000 dealers, Tata Sky aims to add more subscribers and gain market share.

     

    With more than 50,000 downloads since its launch, the mSales app creates new cost efficiencies by decreasing help desk calls to manage existing customer needs, and streamlines processes for establishing new accounts. With simplified access to customer analytics, dealers and distributors can better engage customers with more targeted, personalized products and services.

     

    “With IBM’s deep mobile and industry expertise we have gained a trusted partner for mobile solutions. The Tata Sky mSales app is one of the few examples of how mobile handsets can help us overcome business challenges thereby opening new markets and creating more valuable customer interactions,” said Tata Sky chief information officer Ravishanker.

     

    Advancing clients’ digital transformation strategies, the IBM MobileFirst portfolio of solutions can be integrated as a part of a hybrid cloud solution that combines public and private cloud elements with the flexibility to choose and change environments, data and services as needed.

     

    “Service Providers around the world are facing heightened competition as they compete for customer wallet share and loyalty. Creating personalized customer interactions is critical for extending those relationships and identifying new business opportunities. With the IBM MobileFirst Platform, Tata Sky can take advantage of new growth opportunities in untapped markets and easily scale the number of users and apps being delivered to market to offer differentiated services and get ahead of the competition,” said IBM India and South Asia regional general manager Vanitha Narayanan.

     

    The IBM MobileFirst Platform is available from Bluemix, IBM’s cloud development platform, or via on-premises deployment. IBM total cloud revenue – covering public, private and hybrid engagements – was $7.7 billion over the previous 12 months at the end of March 2015; it grew more than 60 per cent in the first quarter 2015.

  • Tata Sky upgrades to Ericsson’s platform to enhance video services

    Tata Sky upgrades to Ericsson’s platform to enhance video services

    MUMBAI: Direct to home (DTH) operator Tata Sky has upgraded upgraded and expanded its entire DTH platform to the Ericsson’s video compression platform AVP 4000 System Encoder.

     

    The upgrade enables Tata Sky to substantially increase the bouquet of channels offered to subscribers while maintaining the highest quality of viewing experience.

     

    Tata Sky CEO Harit Nagpal said, “For Tata Sky, it is of utmost importance to consistently deliver a high quality viewing experience to our subscribers. The Ericsson AVP 4000 System Encoder allows us to enhance picture quality, offer increased volumes of channels and content and launch new services, such as OTT, on the same platform.”

     

    Ericsson head of region India Chris Houghton added, “Ericsson is committed to helping its customers overcome the challenges of satellite spectrum scarcity and meet increasing quality expectations of Indian consumers. The AVP 4000 System Encoder is designed to overcome today’s bandwidth and delivery constraints by providing the necessary flexibility, velocity and agility to deploy new services within an extremely competitive landscape.”

     

    Four out of the seven DTH operators in India are based on Ericsson’s video compression technology. In March this year, Ericsson supported Tata Sky to launch the first commercial 4K video service in the subcontinent. Customers subscribing to the 4K service could watch video up to four times the resolution of the standard high definition (HD) video currently available.

     

    According to Ericsson, the total mobile video traffic over the next six years (2015-2020) will be more than 17 times that of the last six (2009-2014). With availability of more content for an ever – increasing number of video-enabled devices, it is critical to maximize video delivery over available bandwidth and multiple networks. 

  • Tata Sky looks to gain deeper consumer insights with Cloudera

    Tata Sky looks to gain deeper consumer insights with Cloudera

    MUMBAI: Direct to home (DTH) player Tata Sky has selected Cloudera to support its big data initiative – to gain deeper customer insights from data gathered on subscribers across the country.

     

    Cloudera will provide Tata Sky with an enterprise data hub (EDH) to process and scale its analysis of customer data.

     

    Tata Sky, which offers an array of programming choices and interactive features, will use its Cloudera enterprise data hub to better understand the viewing habits of customers and to create opportunities that enhance and change the viewer’s experience.

     

    “Tata Sky being the fastest growing DTH providers in India today, needs an infrastructure that will help us scale our data collection, processing, and analysis efforts so we can continue improving the customer experience. Implementing an enterprise data hub from Cloudera will allow us to capitalize on the data we collect and cement our position as India’s preferred DTH provider,” said Tata Sky chief information officer Ravishankar N.

     

    “This significant customer win demonstrates our growing traction in India, while further cementing Cloudera’s platform as the platform of choice for communications providers looking to gain a 360-degree view of their businesses in order to further improve customer satisfaction and drive profit maximization. We’re excited to see the business impacts that Tata Sky will realize from using Cloudera’s platform and the new avenues that the company will explore with our technology,” added Cloudera big data evangelist and telecommunications subject matter expert Amy O’Connor.

  • DishTV launches Anandam Active to showcase Ravishankar’s teachings

    DishTV launches Anandam Active to showcase Ravishankar’s teachings

    MUMBAI: Direct to Home (DTH) operator DishTV has launched Anandam Active at the Art of Living headquarters on 14 May, 2015. The service will showcase teachings of the spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar.

     

    This service will be available to subscribers for a monthly fee of Rs 59. Anandam Active will be available across cities, semi urban and rural areas of India.

     

    Anandam Active will have harmony of spirituality, health, culture, social concerns, mythology, science, and education. This service will also have capsules of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at regular intervals, spreading the word of hope and faith.

     

    Sri Sri Ravishankar said, “I am extremely happy at the launch of Anandam Active service only on Asia’s largest DTH player, DishTV. This service has made it possible for millions of people who due to their hectic lifestyles cannot attend live discourses in my Ashram to now listen and learn The Art of Living, even at the remotest part of the country. Together, we hope to make world a better place to live.My blessings are with everyone who is a part of this initiative.”

     

    DishTV chief operating officer Salil Kapoor added, “We are delighted to be partners in this noble initiative. It has been our constant endeavor to make television viewing a wholesome experience for the entire family. We have always believed in offering unique content to our subscribers. With the launch of Anandam Active, we are continuing with our legacy of offering another unique service for our consumers who are spirituality inclined and will have this great opportunity to enjoy Sri Sri’s teachings in the close comfort of their homes.”

     

    Talking about the initiative the content provider for the Anandam Active, Amazing India Television chief executive officer Ajay Kumar asserted, “Anandam Active is launched on the auspicious occasion of Guru Ji’s birthday. The key message of Art of Living is to celebrate life and spread happiness. Anandam Active echoes the same mission and hopes to achieve a positive behavioral change within the masses, who will consume this content. Sri Sri’s teachings on Anandam Active will remove the hindrance of the physical distances with the people at large and will enable us to interact with a much larger audience to share our thoughts and ideology. We firmly believe that DishTV, Asia’s largest direct to home entertainment company shall prove to be a priceless partner in this endeavor.”

  • Tata Sky targets southern market with customised packs

    Tata Sky targets southern market with customised packs

    MUMBAI: After creating quite a stir in the industry by introducing its Rs 8 daily recharge voucher, Direct to home (DTH) service provider Tata Sky has rolled out customized packs specifically targeted towards the Southern markets in India.

     

    These modular packs called the My 99 pack, enables viewers to avail varied regional channels at a reasonable cost along with a base pack of Rs 99.

     

    According to Tata Sky chief communications officer Malay Dikshit, the move will help Tata Sky to tackle analog users in the region situated within urban and rural areas.

     

    “Being price and value sensitive, subscribers were keen to do away with the other language channels that they didn’t view as a part of their base pack and stick to a bouquet of only their favorite language channels. My 99 pack is the answer for all those subscribers,” Dikshit said.

     

    The My 99 pack comprises over 100 channels across genres such as general news, entertainment and movies to which subscribers can add as many language channel packs (Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada) of their choice. Available to new as well as existing subscribers, this pack is specifically conceptualized keeping in mind the requirements of the subscribers residing in the south. The DTH operator is looking at adding new subscribers by launching this initiative.

     

    With the challenge of digitization across the state, such customized and mini packs is also likely to give the DTH sector the much-needed push. 

  • DTH operators gear up to woo new customers during IPL

    DTH operators gear up to woo new customers during IPL

    MUMBAI: Will Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) continue its winning streak from last year or will there be another team that will be crowned as this year’s champions in the Indian Premier League (IPL). While a billion people mull over what the final outcome of the cricket tourney will be, Indian direct to home (DTH) operators are not far behind from milking the multibillion dollar sports property.

     

    When quizzed about how the IPL was aiding operators in getting subscriptions, Tata Sky CEO Harit Nagpal says, “Any activity or event like the IPL generates viewer interest. This viewer interest is important and critical in adding subscriptions. But our pricing and such events are independent of each other. People are likely to follow the event and therefore make a purchase.”

     

    Agreeing with him, Sun Direct CEO Mahesh Kumar reasons, “IPL is a fantastic form of cricket that is full of entertainment. Given that we are at the forefront in providing entertainment, the IPL fits in well.”

     

    Kumar is of the opinion that customers coming back from the exam season will definitely be keen to latch on to new connections from Sun Direct as they are providing IPL on Sony Six free to new customers as an incentive. The operator will also provide the IPL add-on free for customers, who recharge beyond six months.

     

    “We see the IPL as a good tool to win back customers and improve our recharges substantially. We also have an add-on for Rs 44, which allows customers to watch the T20 matches for the entire duration of the tournament, apart from the a la carte of Sony Six and Set Max,” he adds.

     

    Dish TV came on board as the official partner for Shah Rukh Khan’s KKR for a fourth time now. The association is a good brand fix as Khan is also the brand ambassador for the DTH operator. The logo of Dish TV will be prominently featured on the non-lead arm of KKR players’ jersey.

     

    “SRK believes in enthralling his audience with quality and consistent entertainment, which is the same philosophy that we at Dish TV believe in. Kolkata has always been a very important market for us and over the years we have been working with the eastern region for trade and consumer engagement activities,” opines Dish TV COO Salil Kapoor.

     

    Kapoor is hopeful that the IPL will bring in added subscriptions. According to him, with cricket fans across the globe, TV sales are likely to see a jump, which in turn will generate a demand for HD channels. “Shah Rukh’s connect and the fact that Dish TV has a strong bouquet of 41 HD channels will help in increasing brand equity, which in turn will result in good sales for us during this IPL,” Kapoor adds.

     

    When asked about the company’s plans during the IPL, Kapoor informs that the ethos behind their brand – i.e. fuelling the passion for entertainment – is to ensure that it goes beyond sports. “This special package is customized to suit the needs of every member of the family. Keeping this in mind, we have introduced the Cricket + package. Our HD channels’ offering is the highest in the industry at present,” he says.

     

    Videocon d2h too has continued its association as the principal sponsor for the Mumbai Indians franchise for the third continuous season of the IPL. The logo of Videocon d2h will feature on the front of the jersey of Mumbai Indians players. Speaking about the same, Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera says, “We are hopeful of garnering greater visibility for our brand and are looking forward to another eventful year through this partnership.”

     

    Airtel Digital TV has launched various schemes for its customers during this IPL. A company spokesperson informs that for all customers buying Samsung Curve and UHD TV, Airtel Digital TV will offer HD DVR connection at the same cost as that of an HD connection.

     

    “All customers will get discount coupons worth Rs 2650. Customer can enjoy watching the matches on an HD DVR by paying Rs 2350. This box has inbuilt hard disk of 500 GB and customer can enjoy record content up to 750 hours enabling customer to record and watch the matches at a time convenient. Additionally, customers will get free subscription for up to 12 months through a scratch card offer,” informs the spokesperson.

     

    Besides on all other Samsung models, Airtel Digital TV will offer a discount coupon of Rs 660 on its HD+ variant. Additionally customers will get a 8 GB pen drive worth Rs 399 free enabling them to record. Activation charges on Samsung smart direct TVs will be waved off completely.