ITV

Category: DTH

  • Remote control redefined as Dish TV dials up its Smart+ experience

    Remote control redefined as Dish TV dials up its Smart+ experience

    Mumbai: No more juggling remotes or input sources, Dish TV just changed the channel on home entertainment. The company has launched its new Smart+ device, an all-in-one upgrade that turns regular Android and Google TVs into smart content hubs, uniting live TV and OTT apps under a single roof.

    After the success of its flagship Smart product last year, Dish TV’s latest launch is a smarter sequel that simplifies how viewers consume content. With Smart+, your existing TV morphs into a full-fledged entertainment command centre no new remote required. Want to flip from a TV news channel to a web series on an OTT app? Just press a button on your regular TV remote.

    Built for seamless integration, Smart+ eliminates the need to switch devices or inputs. The intuitive interface not only brings your favourite TV channels and streaming services together, but also lets you set reminders, add shows to favourites, and even keep the kids in check with built-in parental controls.

    Need a quick glance at what’s coming up next? The preview banners and thumbnails offer a visual sneak peek, so you’re never lost in the scroll. Whether you’re a live sports enthusiast, a serial binge-watcher or a casual viewer, Smart+ tailors the experience to suit every screen personality.

    Compact, sleek, and feather-light, the device fits right into any living room aesthetic. And it’s portable too perfect for modern homes that love a little less cable clutter.

    Dish TV India Ltd. CEO & executive director Manoj Dobhal said, “As part of our ongoing commitment to drive innovation in the entertainment industry, we are proud to introduce the Smart+ Device. This product marks a significant advancement in the seamless integration of traditional television and OTT services, catering to the evolving needs of today’s digital consumer. We are confident that this integration represents the future of entertainment. With the launch of the Smart+ Device, we are enhancing both convenience and accessibility while reinforcing our leadership in delivering integrated, next-generation solutions for our customers.”

    The Smart+ device is now available via Dish TV’s official website, Flipkart, and major retail outlets ready to slide into your setup and stream your screen life into something a whole lot smarter.

  • Old box new tricks as OneTV reboots legacy set tops with a smart spin

    Old box new tricks as OneTV reboots legacy set tops with a smart spin

    MUMBAI: Who says you can’t teach an old box new tricks? In a bold leap that’s both tech-savvy and eco-conscious, Hungary’s leading TV provider One Hungary has rolled out a major upgrade to its OneTV service without replacing a single set-top box. That’s right: legacy devices, some over ten years old, have been brought back to life with an all-new next-gen interface, delivering a streaming experience that rivals the flashiest new gear.

    The revamp, delivered in partnership with 3 Screen Solutions (3SS), brings the award-winning 3Ready platform to more than 400,000 households across Hungary. The result? A sleek, intuitive UI, seamless content discovery, personalised recommendations, and access to big-league apps like Netflix, Prime Video and Youtube all from the comfort of those trusty old black boxes gathering dust under TV stands.

    3SS  managing director Kai-Christian Borchers said, “We are delighted with the achievement to migrate One Hungary’s customers onto the new One TV service platform. We offer huge congratulations to One Hungary for accomplishing this project that demonstrates commitment to innovation, and to providing the best possible service to customers, new and old.”

    Sagemcom senior executive VP for audio video Solutions Business Unit Olivier Taravel said, “We are extremely proud that One Hungary selected the Sagemcom platform to deliver its next-generation OneTV service to Hungarian subscribers. We look forward to our ongoing collaboration with 3SS to help One Hungary enable consumers to enjoy a truly world-class entertainment service.”

    One Hungary, part of the telecom giant 4iG Group, is in the final stages of consolidating four major service providers under one umbrella. The move marks a massive infrastructure evolution and positions the group as Hungary’s second-largest full-service telecom player. The OneTV upgrade is a centrepiece of that transformation, proving that good tech can be good for the planet too.

    Technical wizardry aside, the platform also taps into NAGRA’s OpenTV Video Platform and security stack, enabling OneTV to act as a super-aggregator blending live TV, OTT, catch-up, and SVOD into one unified playground. Throw in support for regional favourites like RTL+ and HBO Max, and you’ve got a service that speaks fluently to local and global tastes alike.

    The magic behind the scenes includes LightningJS, a lean, responsive UI framework optimised for low-spec devices and a Sagemcom hybrid STB built around Broadcom’s 72604 chip. It’s fast, flexible, and fully future-ready.

    So next time your telly feels a little dated, don’t bin the box just reboot it. As OneTV proves, the future of television doesn’t always mean starting from scratch. Sometimes, it’s just about thinking inside the box.

  • Tata Play Binge adds BBC Player to its streaming menu, bringing British classics to Indian screens

    Tata Play Binge adds BBC Player to its streaming menu, bringing British classics to Indian screens

    MUMBAI: Tata Play Binge has inked a fresh deal with BBC Player, injecting its content library with a world of British brilliance. Subscribers are now in for a treat with a treasure trove of critically acclaimed BBC titles—Luther, Doctor Who, Top Gear, Planet Earth III, and more—joining the platform’s extensive streaming lineup.

    The partnership aims to offer a mix of iconic dramas, sharp-witted comedies, genre-defining documentaries, and engaging family-friendly content—all under one roof. From the legendary Mr. Bean to the culinary magic of Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver, there’s something for everyone. Even the kids can dive into animated favourites like Andy’s Aquatic Adventures and Junior Bake Off.

    Tata Play chief commercial and content officer Pallavi Puri said, “This partnership underscores our commitment to bringing the best of global content to our viewers, all in one place. BBC Studio’s premium storytelling and rich library of highly celebrated shows perfectly complement our growing content roster, and we are confident that our users will love this addition.” 

    BBC Studios  vice-president distribution Stanley Fernandes added, “, “We’re excited to bring BBC Player to more homes across India with Tata Play Binge, offering the best of British entertainment—from acclaimed dramas to inspiring lifestyle shows and kids’ favourites—all in one place. This marks a new chapter in our partnership with Tata Play as we expand into their OTT aggregation space, building on our strong collaboration.”

    BBC Player joins a star-studded lineup of over 30 streaming apps already available on Tata Play Binge, including Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, SonyLIV, and Zee5, making it a one-stop shop for diverse content. With this latest addition, Tata Play Binge continues its mission to be the ultimate hub for premium streaming.

  • Den-tastic rebound as profits climb despite dip in revenues

    Den-tastic rebound as profits climb despite dip in revenues

    MUMBAI: Den Networks has dialled in a steady signal of profitability, even as top-line numbers took a slight dip. The cable and broadband player closed FY25 with a standalone net profit of Rs 1,173.96 million, despite a drop in annual revenue from operations to Rs 9,891.45 million, down from Rs 10,347.56 million in FY24. Total income for the year stood at Rs 12,279.77 million, marginally lower than the Rs 12,391.39 million earned in the previous fiscal.

    Even with this modest revenue decline, Den managed to hold its ground thanks to tighter cost controls and robust income from other sources, which rose to Rs 2,388.32 million in FY25, up from Rs 2,043.83 million a year ago. Placement fees and employee benefit expenses remained largely consistent, while content costs dipped to Rs 5,794.60 million from Rs 6,012.47 million.

    On the earnings front, profit before tax came in at Rs 1,588.47 million, and the company reported a basic and diluted earnings per share of Rs 2.46 for FY25, compared to Rs 3.68 in FY24. The total comprehensive income stood at Rs 1,178.83 million.

    Den’s standalone balance sheet also reflected financial prudence, with total assets at Rs 42,496.64 million and equity capital of Rs 4,767.66 million. Cash and cash equivalents stood at Rs 106.11 million, a drop from Rs 171.73 million in FY24, reflecting increased capital expenditure and strategic investments.

    On the consolidated front, Den clocked a net profit of Rs 1,967.30 million for FY25, supported by a total income of Rs 12,495.34 million and contributions from 24 subsidiaries and 5 associates. Profit attributable to the parent company’s shareholders was Rs 2,000.62 million. Its cable distribution segment remained the primary revenue driver, raking in Rs 9,780.35 million, while broadband contributed Rs 453.73 million.

    Den also made headway in cost management across its subsidiaries. Depreciation and amortisation dropped year-on-year from Rs 1,128.10 million to Rs 1,057.65 million. Total liabilities declined to Rs 4,825.45 million from Rs 4,630.70 million, with the company maintaining a strong equity base of Rs 36,596.46 million, including Rs 400.81 million in non-controlling interest.

    Cash from operating activities stood at Rs 183.00 million, down from Rs 836.28 million in FY24, largely due to higher outflows in tax and receivables. The company closed the year with cash reserves of Rs 159.23 million.

    Auditors Chaturvedi & Shah issued an unmodified opinion on both standalone and consolidated financial statements, confirming the company’s clean financial health.

    With a focus on digital transformation and regional expansion, Den seems poised to keep its broadband and cable businesses in sync with the shifting currents of India’s media landscape.

  • Colors Rishtey back on DD FreeDish, bringing TV classics to the masses

    Colors Rishtey back on DD FreeDish, bringing TV classics to the masses

    MUMBAI: Hold onto your remotes, India! JioStar’s Colors Rishtey has slithered back onto DD FreeDish, popping up on channel 50. After a three-year hiatus, the channel is returning with iconic shows, all for free, kicking off on 1 April That’s no April fool’s joke.

    The channel management has lined up a string of  its hit soaps  and drama series in the hope of pulling in the eyeballs.. Expect the serpentine shenanigans of Naagin, starring Mouni Roy and Arjun Bijlaani, and Naagin – Insaaf Ki Jung,  featuring Surbhi Jyoti, Anita Hassanandani, and Karishma Tanna. Family feuds and kitchen sink dramas abound in Sasural Simar Ka, with Avika Gor and Dipika Kakar, and Sasural Simar Ka – Ek Naya Adhyay,  starring Radhika Muthukumar and Avinash Mukherjee. For a dose of social drama, there’s Doree, featuring Amar Upadhya and Sudha Chandran, and for a laugh, Khatra Khatra Khatra, with Haarsh Limbachiyaa and Bharti Singh. And for those seeking a touch of the divine, Mahakali-Ant Hi Arambh Hein and Mahaveer Hanuman are on hand to deliver some timeless devotional sagas.

    Colors Rishtey head of linear TV business Arnab Das is over the moon. “We’re thrilled to reintroduce the magic of iconic shows, all for free!” he exclaimed. “We’re bringing back the golden days of TV – full of drama, family stories, and moments that everyone in the family can enjoy.”

    The return of Colors Rishtey is a major win for DD FreeDish viewers, who’ve been missing their fix of classic television. Now, they can settle in for hours of free entertainment, proving that even in the age of streaming, good old-fashioned television still packs a punch. It’s a proper telly tale. 

  • Watcho and Cloud TV switch on seamless entertainment for smart TV viewers

    Watcho and Cloud TV switch on seamless entertainment for smart TV viewers

    MUMBAI: India’s smart TV experience is about to get a major upgrade as Dish TV’s Watcho joins forces with Cloud Walker’s Cloud TV OS to make premium content more accessible than ever. The collaboration aims to redefine home entertainment, integrating Watcho’s vast catalogue with over 200 smart TV brands, eliminating multiple logins and simplifying access for millions of users.

    As the smart TV market in India grows at a CAGR of 13.11 per cent, the demand for seamless, cost-effective entertainment is skyrocketing. This partnership taps into that trend, ensuring Watcho’s content reaches over 18 million users across 6 million devices, bringing together a world of movies, web series, live sports, and more all on one platform.

    With Cloud TV OS, Watcho subscribers can log in once and start streaming instantly, without juggling multiple credentials. The interface will also feature personalised recommendations, a ‘continue watching’ option, and exclusive Cloud TV Bundles, offering bundled subscriptions to leading OTT platforms.

    Dish TV chief revenue officer Sukhpreet Singh said, “At Dish, we recognize that the future of entertainment lies in seamless, integrated experiences. With smart TVs becoming the preferred screen for digital content, our partnership with Cloud Walker is a strategic step toward making Watcho’s vast content library effortlessly accessible to millions. By embedding Watcho into Cloud TV OS, we are not just expanding our reach—we are redefining how India consumes content, making premium entertainment more intuitive, affordable, and frictionless.”

    Cloud TV co-founder & COO Abhijeet Rajpurohit said, “We’re thrilled to partner with DishTV Watcho under CloudTV Bundle, making premium entertainment more accessible than ever. With Watcho’s vast content library now integrated into 200 plus TV brands, over 12 million viewers can seamlessly access to top OTT platforms all through a single subscription.”

    With Cloud Walker serving over 10 million users, this collaboration positions Dish TV Watcho at the forefront of India’s evolving connected TV landscape. As more consumers shift towards Connected TV (CTV), this move ensures that Watcho remains a key player in the industry.
     

  • Tata Sons get CCI nod for additional slice of Tata Play

    Tata Sons get CCI nod for additional slice of Tata Play

    MUMBAI: Tata Sons has secured regulatory approval to tighten its grip on the arguably the country’s best distribution platform operator. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has given the green light for the conglomerate to acquire a 10 per cent stake in Tata Play from Temasek-owned Baytree Investments. 

    The transaction, valued at an unconfirmed $100 million, boosts Tata Sons’ ownership to 70 per cent, with Walt Disney holding the remaining 30 per cent. Industry insiders note the deal values Tata Play at a modest $1 billion—a significant haircut from its earlier publicly known  $3 billion valuation.

    “Commission approves the acquisition of certain additional shareholding in Tata Play Limited by Tata Sons Pvt Ltd  from Baytree Investments (Mauritius) Pte Ltd,” the CCI declared in Monday’s press release.

    The move comes as speculation swirls around a potential merger between Tata Play and Bharti Airtel’s rival DTH business. Both companies are reportedly engaged in bilateral talks, with sources suggesting a share-swap arrangement that would make Airtel the majority stakeholder with 52-55 per cent of the combined entity. Tata Play’s stakeholders, including Disney, would retain 45-48 per cent, according to unconfirmed media reports.

    Airtel’s senior management is expected to lead the merged business, with Tata angling for two board seats. 

     For Tata Sons, already registered as a “Systemically Important Non-Deposit Taking Core Investment Company” with the Reserve Bank of India, this represents another strategic tile in its sprawling business mosaic.

    The regulatory approval mirrors last year’s CCI nod for Bharti Airtel’s acquisition of a 20 per cent stake in its DTH arm, Bharti Telemedia, from Warburg Pincus affiliate Lion Meadow Investment Ltd  for Rs 3,126 crore.

  • Tata Play forges new FanCode Sports partnership

    Tata Play forges new FanCode Sports partnership

    MUMBAI: Following the inclusion of  sports destination FanCode in OTT aggregator app Tata Play Binge  in December 2023, the DTH operator has now announced the launch of Tata Play FanCode Sports, giving its subscribers a front-row seat to a smorgasbord of sporting action including cricket, football, kabaddi, golf and motorsports.

    The new platform promises to deliver over 100 hours of live sports monthly, covering more than eight major sports and featuring blue-ribbon tournaments such as the Carabao Cup, Copa del Rey, and Concacaf Champions Cup. Cricket enthusiasts haven’t been left on a sticky wicket either, with Australia’s Tour of West Indies and South Africa’s Tour of Zimbabwe also on the menu.

    Formula 1 fanatics are in for a treat as the service brings coverage of all 24 Grand Prix weekends to screens across India. Viewers can witness Lewis Hamilton don the famous Ferrari red for the first time as he reignites his rivalry with Red Bull’s high-flying Max Verstappen.

    The platform will showcase global sporting megastars including football icons Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Mohamed Salah, and Lionel Messi, alongside cricket heavyweights Nicholas Pooran, Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, and Aiden Markram.

    “We are thrilled to expand our partnership with FanCode,” said  Tata Play  chief commercial &  content officer Pallavi Puri. “This exciting collaboration marks a significant milestone, enabling us to offer a seamless viewing experience across screens, enhancing the diversity and accessibility of live sports content.”

    FanCode co-founder Yannick Colaco added: “After our successful collaboration on Tata Play Binge, we are thrilled to continue our partnership with Tata Play to bring FanCode to millions of new homes.”
    The 24/7 ad-free service will be available on EPG No. 485 and through the Tata Play mobile app for Rs 75 per month—a small price to pay for front-row tickets to the sporting world’s greatest hits.

  • Bharti Airtel confirms it is discussing potential Tata Play DTH merger

    Bharti Airtel confirms it is discussing potential Tata Play DTH merger

    MUMBAI: Bharti Airtel has confirmed it is in discussions with the Tata group regarding a potential merger of their direct-to-home (DTH) operations. 

    In a brief statement, filed with the Bombay stock exchange, Bharti Airtel acknowledged that the two companies are in bilateral talks exploring the combination of Tata Play Ltd with Bharti Telemedia Ltd, a subsidiary of Airtel. The potential transaction would need to be structured in a manner “acceptable to all parties.”

    It however cautioned that discussions remain at an early stage, with no firm agreements reached.

    The clarification follows reports in mainstream media about an imminent “mega DTH merger” between the two business groups.

    If successful, the merger would create one of India’s largest DTH operators, potentially reshaping the country’s pay television landscape.

    Neither company has provided details regarding timeframes, valuation, or potential regulatory hurdles that would need to be addressed for the transaction to proceed.

  • Tata Play & Airtel Digital TV to Merge in Share Swap Deal – Economic Times report

    Tata Play & Airtel Digital TV to Merge in Share Swap Deal – Economic Times report

    MUMBAI — A major consolidation is underway in India’s television distribution landscape as Tata Play and Airtel Digital TV prepare to merge through a share swap, according to a report by The Economic Times.

    The deal will see Airtel holding over 50 per cent of the combined entity, effectively consolidating India’s direct-to-home (DTH) sector as viewers increasingly shift towards digital streaming platforms.

    Tata Play, formerly known as Tata Sky, is India’s largest DTH provider and was previously a joint venture with Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, which was later acquired by Disney in 2019. Through this merger, Airtel will gain access to Tata Play’s 19 million subscribers, bolstering its strategy to bundle telecom, broadband, and DTH services.

    The merger follows the 2016 consolidation of Dish TV and Videocon d2h, and comes amid Reliance Industries and Disney combining Star India and Viacom18 to form JioStar, now India’s largest media company with Rs 26,000 crore revenue in FY24.

    First reported by The Economic Times on 8 October 2024, the agreement is expected to be formalised soon. Airtel is likely to control 52-55 per cent of the new entity, while Tata Play’s shareholders, including Disney, will retain 45-48 per cent. Tata Sons is reportedly seeking two board seats, while Airtel’s management is expected to lead operations.

    “This will be a non-binding agreement,” an executive familiar with the deal told the newspaper. “Both parties have been engaged for months and are expected to resolve outstanding issues quickly.”

    Both companies are valued at between Rs 6,000-7,000 crore each. Airtel Digital TV operates under Bharti Telemedia Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bharti Airtel. Tata Sons owns 70 per cent of Tata Play after acquiring Temasek Holding’s 10 per cent stake in April 2024 for Rs 835 crore, valuing Tata Play at $1 billion, down from its pre-pandemic $3 billion.

    Disney is expected to maintain its stake in the merged entity. As of September 2024, the two DTH providers had a combined 35 million subscribers, generating over Rs 7,000 crore in revenue in FY24. Tata Play also serves 500,000 broadband customers.