ITV

Category: DTH

  • DishTV expands its portfolio by 23 channels

    MUMBAI: Dish TV has expanded its portfolio by adding 23 new channels. This includes nine high-definition channels and 14 standard definition channels, taking the total count of channels and services to more than 615.  

    High definition technology has taken the country by storm. Not only the urban but the rural hinterlands of the country have started adopting high definition viewing. 

    DishTV has taken the initiative to take HD to masses with the introduction of lowest entry pack and now with the addition of these 9 channels, the promise of widest range of HD channels continues. And with these additions, the company’s HD portfolio becomes stronger with a total of 68 HD channels on its platform. The list of channels are as follows:

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/sites/drupal7.indiantelevision.co.in/files/styles/large/public/di1.jpg?itok=ELf8TTML

    Adding further to the offerings, DishTV has accumulated 14 standard definition channels to its gamut of channels and services. Having already built a strong connection with the regional audience through their eclectic range of regional channels, the addition of 14 more new regional standard definition channels exemplify DishTV’s commitment to cater to a wide range of viewers across all regions. The list of the respective channels are as follows-

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/sites/drupal7.indiantelevision.co.in/files/styles/large/public/di2.jpg?itok=VwKx67kr

    In addition, to make HD more affordable and to get the most viewed HD channels at Rs.86 + taxes per month, DishTV has introduced HD Ala-carte (small HD entertainment add on packs) to capture the interest of consumers towards HD viewing by offering them more HD content and mix of genre at a nominal price of Rs.86+ taxes per month. This offering enables DishTV subscribers to select these ala-carte as per their preferences and needs. With this, DishTV made entry to HD very easy and simple with two-step process – select any base pack and add any of the HD ala-carte worth Rs.86 + taxes per month.

    Commenting on these additions DishTV India chief executive officer  Arun Kapoor said, “TV viewing in India has undergone a sea change over the years. From the days when people had a handful of channels, today, we live in an era where people are spoilt for choices. We at DishTV have always been at the forefront in enhancing TV viewing experience and exploring opportunities to bring wholesome entertainment to the audience. With a sharp focus on regional language content, the move aims at connecting strongly with the regional language subscribers. Addition of these 23 channels will not only strengthen our presence in the HD and SD space but will also diversify our offerings.”

  • AION Capital to acquire majority interest in PlanetCast Media Services

    NEW DELHI: AION Capital Partners Limited (the “AION Fund”) is to acquire a majority interest in PlanetCast Media Services Limited (earlier known as Essel Shyam Communications Limited) from shareholders including affiliates of the Essel Group, the Shyam Group and private equity firm Kubera Partners.

    However, the full terms of the transaction were not disclosed. This represents the second transaction affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC have done with the Essel Group, having invested $100 million into DishTV in 2009, having successfully exited that investment in 2015.

    The AION Fund is an India-focused fund established by an affiliate of Apollo together with ICICI Venture Funds Management Company Limited. With approximately US$825 million in committed capital, AION Fund is currently one of the largest private equity funds in India.

    Founded in 1996, PlanetCast is a professionally managed, market-leading provider of technology-led managed services to the broadcasting industry in India and neighbouring countries, with a rapidly growing footprint across Southeast Asia.

    PlanetCast provides comprehensive, customized solutions across content management operations (including storage, enrichment and automated play-out) and distribution (including satellite broadcasting, digital streaming and cloud distribution). Following the acquisition by the AION Fund, PlanetCast will continue to be led by the current management team.

    “We are excited for the AION Fund to acquire PlanetCast” said AION Fund partner Utsav Baijal. “We believe PlanetCast is a market leading franchise that delivers best-in-class digital media solutions to its customers. We look forward to working with PlanetCast’s talented and dedicated team to continue the business’s strong heritage of innovation and customer satisfaction”

    “We are pleased to have sponsored PlanetCast during this period of significant growth and transformation. PlanetCast’s foundation as a leader in the broadcasting services industry, position the company well for its new ownership under the AION Fund,” PlanetCast promoter Jawahar Goel said.

    PlanetCast Executive Director M N Vyas said, “We are grateful to our existing shareholders for all the support and guidance to date and look forward to our relationship with the AION Fund”.

    Executive Director Lalit Jain added that “We believe that under the new leadership, PlanetCast can build on its industry leadership position and invest in emerging technologies to become the leading service provider to both the traditional and digital media economy”.

  • Tata Sky brings global content for Indians, premiering Gomorrah on 19 Mar

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky, India’s innovative content distribution platform, has launched Tata Sky World Series – the exclusive home of much admired global content. The pop-up service will premiere first with popular Italian language crime drama, Gomorrah, on 19 March.

    Tata Sky, a joint venture between the Tata Sons and 21st Century Fox, is one of India’s leading content distribution platform providing Pay TV and OTT services.

    ‘Gomorrah’ will be the first TV series on Tata Sky World Series and shall run for one month with English subtitles. On television, the pop-up service, Tata Sky World Series will run one new episode a day along with previous episodes available throughout the day. Gomorrah will be available to all Tata Sky subscribers for a period of one month via Tata Sky’s Set-Top-Box & Tata Sky Mobile App at no additional cost.

    Tata Sky Chief Content & Business Development Officer Paolo Agostinelli said, “Tata Sky constantly pushes the boundaries of innovation by providing an assorted and rich array of content to our subscribers on platforms of their choice; be it the Set-Top-Box or the Tata Sky Mobile App. This new service will enable our subscribers to consume global content which otherwise would not have reached the Indian sub-continent through the conventional mediums of television. Gomorrah being the first of many international TV shows on Tata Sky World Series, is a scintillating drama on the much-romanced Italian Mafia, that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.”

    Today subscribers are increasingly involved on social media and latch on to popular content digitally. In line with this trend, the ‘Tata Sky World Series’ service will be accessible on Tata Sky On-demand for binge watching, for the entire month, both on STBs and on digital devices via Tata Sky Mobile.

    Tata Sky World Series will showcase fresh and exciting global content from Italy, UK, Cuba, Norway, Czech Republic and South Korea on Indian screens exclusively for Tata Sky subscribers throughout the year.

    ‘Gomorrah’ is Italy’s popular television series based on the best-selling book by the journalist Roberto Saviano. The novel has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and inspired the film Gomorrah, which won the 2008 Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. The series, set in the suburbs of Naples in Italy, focuses on the inside story of the Camorra, the fierce Neapolitan crime organization, and is told through the eyes of Ciro Di Marzio (Marco D’Amore), the right hand of the clan’s godfather, Pietro Savastanno (Fortunato Cerlino).

  • Dish TV Videocon Ltd. may start operations in Sept ’17

    MUMBAI: With no roadblocks apprehended and approvals going ahead, the new merged direct-to-home (DTH) behemoth may start operations in September 2017. As reported by www.indiantelevision.com earlier, the new merged entity Dish TV Videocon Ltd. is set to create the single-largest DTH company in India.

    The proposed transaction remained subject to approvals, including from the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the stock exchanges, shareholders and creditors of both companies, the Competition Commission of India, the High Court of Bombay and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The proposed transaction was expected to close in the second half of 2017.

    Dish TV CMD Jawahar Goel has told Express that September was the tentative date for starting joint operations. Although, he said, August was doable, but they were sure to begin operations around September. Sources in Videocon d2h have also confirmed the launch’s anticipated timeline.

    As reported by www.indiantelevision.com, CCI recently sought TRAI’s views on the proposed merger of Dish TV and Videocon d2h and as to whether or not the deal, leading to formation of Dish TV Videocon Ltd., will violate anti-trust laws.

    Dish TV, owned by Zee Entertainment (ZEEL) and the DTH arm of Videocon Industries had in November last year announced their merger. Dish TV, as per the proposed terms, will own 55 per cent in the new entity, according to Livemint. A TRAI official confirmed that CCI has sought its views on the subject.

    Goel had said that “the arrangement of the scheme is merger and we never envisaged a buyout.” The Board of directors of the two giants had earlier approved a scheme of arrangement for the amalgamation of Vd2h into Dish TV and the execution of definitive agreements in relation to such amalgamation.

    Pursuant to the Scheme, it was earlier reported, Dish TV Videocon shall issue 857.791 million shares as consideration for the scheme and the Vd2h shareholders shall be allotted 2.021 new shares of Dish TV Videocon for every one share held in Vd2h (subject to certain adjustments as set out in the Scheme), which would result in Dish TV shareholders owning 1,066.861 million existing shares or 55.4% of Dish TV Videocon, and Vd2h shareholders owning 857.791 million new shares or 44.6% of Dish TV Videocon.

    The fully diluted share count of Dish TV at 1,066,863,665 shares, which will lead to 857,785,766 shares of Dish TV Videocon being issued to Vd2h shareholders. Exchange ratio rounded off to two decimal places. One Vd2h ADS represents four equity shares of Vd2h.

    The proposed transaction was expected to create a leading cable and satellite distribution platform in India. Dish TV Videocon would serve 27.6 million net subscribers in India, as of September 30, 2016, on a pro-forma basis, out of a total of 175 million TV households in India highlighting significant room for growth. The combined entity would have revenue of Rs. 59,158 million and EBITDA of Rs. 18,262 million on a pro-forma basis for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2016 positioning it as a leading media company in India. The proposed transaction is expected to provide better synergies and growth opportunities and enable Dish TV Videocon to provide differentiated and superior service to all customers through deeper after-sales, distribution and technology capabilities, and also become a more effective partner for TV content providers in India.

  • CareView becomes Dish Network’s private cable operator

    MUMBAI: CareView Communications, Inc., an information technology provider to the healthcare industry, executed an agreement with Dish Network, LLC, a Colorado company, to become a Private Cable Operator (PCO). This agreement will enable CareView to provide television network services via Dish Network as part of its full suite of products and services offered through its CareView System.

    “Our intention is to include television services via Dish Network to residents in skilled nursing and assisted living centers as a part of our bundled service offering which will provide greater flexibility for the facility and more viewing options for their patients”

    As a PCO, CareView will have greater flexibility and less overhead than cable operators or public utility companies and can pass savings along to its customers. This bulk programming will provide a low cost viewing package that can be delivered to each room within assisted living centers, nursing homes and hospitals.

    “Our intention is to include television services via Dish Network to residents in skilled nursing and assisted living centers as a part of our bundled service offering which will provide greater flexibility for the facility and more viewing options for their patients,” stated CareView CEO Steven Johnson. “This represents a continuation of our present bundled services philosophy. It offers an additional way for facilities to cut costs and add additional revenue.”

    CareView installs its equipment in healthcare facilities at no charge, thereafter generating revenue from subscriptions to its suite of products and services that are priced as a bundled service. As CareView’s tiered pricing structure is based on the volume commitment by each customer, it intends to include television services via Dish Network to skilled nursing and assisted living centers as part of the bundled service offering to allow customers access to the full suite of CareView services.

    The Company’s CareView System provides a full complement of clinical and patient monitoring services for a variety of healthcare facilities. It also provides an entertainment suite of services to increase patient satisfaction scores and enhance the overall image of the facility including first-run, on-demand movies, Internet access and the ability to visit with family and friends through video conferencing.

    CareView’s mission is to be the leading provider of products and on-demand application services for the healthcare industry by specializing in bedside video monitoring, archiving and patient care documentation systems and patient entertainment services. Through the use of telecommunications technology and the Internet, our products and on-demand services will greatly increase the access to quality medical care and education for both consumers and healthcare professionals.

  • Dish TV, Videocon d2h merger: CCI seeks TRAI views

    MUMBAI: CCI has sought TRAI’s views on the proposed merger of Dish TV and Videocon d2h and as to whether or not the deal, leading to formation of Dish TV Videocon Ltd., will violate anti-trust laws.

    Dish TV, owned by Zee Entertainment (ZEEL) and the DTH arm of Videocon Industries had in November last year announced their merger. Dish TV, as per the proposed terms, will own 55 per cent in the new entity, according to Livemint.

    A TRAI official confirmed that CCI has sought its views on the subject.

    Dish TV India managing director Jawahar Goel had said that “the arrangement of the scheme is merger and we never envisaged a buyout.” The Board of directors of the two giants had earlier approved a scheme of arrangement for the amalgamation of Vd2h into Dish TV and the execution of definitive agreements in relation to such amalgamation.

    Pursuant to the Scheme, it was earlier reported, Dish TV Videocon shall issue 857.791 million shares as consideration for the scheme and the Vd2h shareholders shall be allotted 2.021 new shares of Dish TV Videocon for every one share held in Vd2h (subject to certain adjustments as set out in the Scheme), which would result in Dish TV shareholders owning 1,066.861 million existing shares or 55.4% of Dish TV Videocon, and Vd2h shareholders owning 857.791 million new shares or 44.6% of Dish TV Videocon.

    The fully diluted share count of Dish TV at 1,066,863,665 shares, which will lead to 857,785,766 shares of Dish TV Videocon being issued to Vd2h shareholders. Exchange ratio rounded off to two decimal places. One Vd2h ADS represents four equity shares of Vd2h.

    The proposed transaction was expected to create a leading cable and satellite distribution platform in India. Dish TV Videocon would serve 27.6 million net subscribers in India, as of September 30, 2016, on a pro-forma basis, out of a total of 175 million TV households in India highlighting significant room for growth. The combined entity would have revenue of Rs. 59,158 million and EBITDA of Rs. 18,262 million on a pro-forma basis for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2016 positioning it as a leading media company in India. The proposed transaction is expected to provide better synergies and growth opportunities and enable Dish TV Videocon to provide differentiated and superior service to all customers through deeper after-sales, distribution and technology capabilities, and also become a more effective partner for TV content providers in India.

    The proposed transaction remained subject to approvals, including from the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the stock exchanges, shareholders and creditors of both companies, the Competition Commission of India, the High Court of Bombay and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The proposed transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2017.

  • Videocon d2h partners Netflix for HD Smart Connect

    MUMBAI: Videocon d2h has signed a deal with the internet television network Netflix. With this partnership, Videocon d2h connected box customers will now be able to access seamlessly the extensive library of Netflix TV and movie titles.

    Videocon d2h consumers will be able to enjoy Netflix on a large screen by simply clicking a dedicated Netflix button on the remote control of HD Smart Connect Set Top Box (STB).

    Videocon d2h executive director Saurabh Dhoot said, “Our partnership will strengthen our DNA of innovation by providing TV screen experience for Netflix users in a seamless manner. This partnership in India with Netflix gives the customers the simple click of a button to easily select between our DTH and world class apps like Netflix services on the HD Smart Connect Set top box.”

    Netflix will be available on an exclusive app available on connected Set top box, HD SMART STB (Connected STB) which converts any existing TV into a smart TV besides showing you more than 600 channels and services in high definition and standard definition. The HD smart connect set top box allows consumers to watch their favourite channels in SD and HD, using the satellite feed like any other Videocon d2h set top box. The set top box can be connected to the internet through any Wifi or ethernet connection in the home for accessing a curated set of applications available through the internet. The minimum internet speed needed is 2 Mbps. These apps, both free and paid cover a range of content genres and utility apps.

    Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera added, “With Netflix on board, Videocon d2h is enhancing its position as the customer’s first choice of entertainment. Integrating premium entertainment services like Netflix into our services offered via HD Smart Connect Set Top Box will make us even more attractive for our consumers. We will continue to deliver exceptional entertainment and give consumer the power to view content and enhance our leadership in homes with wifi/broadband.”

    Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings said, “While there are millions of consumers all over the world using Netflix, enjoying the ability to watch anywhere, anytime and the incredible variety of programming we offer, we are really only at the beginning of our journey here in India. This partnership with Videocon d2h is important for us in the way we reach to the diversity of the Indian market and will make it much easier for Indian consumers to watch Netflix.

  • Dish Network rev flat in ’16 despite declining pay-TV subs

    BENGALURU:  The fourth largest US pay-TV player Dish Network Corporation (DNC) reported almost flat revenues for the year ended 31 December 2016 (FY-16, current year, quarter ended 31 December 2016 – Q4-16, current quarter) as compared to the previous fiscal. Though Dish reported 2.164 million gross subscriber additions in FY-16, its net subscriber base declined by 392,000. The company closed the fourth quarter with 13.671 million pay-TV subscribers, compared to 13.897 million pay-TV subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2015. Last year the company lost approximately 81,000 pay-TV subscribers.

    Dish reported revenues of $15,094.56 million in FY-16 as compared to $15,069.90 million in the previous year. Subscriber related revenue increased to $15,033.94 million in the current year from $14,953.60 million in the previous year.

    Net income attributable to Dish in FY-16 was almost double (94.1 percent more) at $1,449.85 as compared to $749.09 million in FY-15. Consequently earnings per share also almost doubled (up 93.8 percent) in FY-16 at $3.12 as compared to $1.61 in the previous year.

    Pay-TV average monthly subscriber churn for 2016 was 1.83 percent compared to 1.71 percent in 2015.Dish reported higher pay-TV ARPU in the current year at $88.66 as compared to $86.79 in the previous year.

    Subscriber acquisition costs totalled $1.471 billion for FY-16, a decrease of $212 million or 12.6 percent compared to the same period in 2015. pay-TV SAC was $643 during FY-16 compared to $723 during the same period in 2015, a decrease of $80 or 11.1 percent. The company says  that this change was primarily attributable to an increase in Sling branded pay-TV subscriber activations and a decrease in hardware costs per activation, partially offset by an increase in advertising costs per activation. Subscriber acquisition costs for Sling branded pay-TV subscribers are significantly lower than those for DISH branded pay-TV subscribers, and therefore, the increase in Sling branded pay-TV subscriber activations during 2016 had a positive impact on pay-TV SAC.

    Dish includes all of its Dish and Sling branded subscribers in the company’s total pay-TV metrics, including in the pay-TV subscriber, pay-TV ARPU and pay-TV churn rate numbers. The company markets its Sling TV services primarily to consumers who do not subscribe to traditional satellite and cable pay-TV services. Sling TV services require an Internet connection and are available on multiple streaming-capable devices including TVs, tablets, computers, game consoles and smart phones.

    In addition, Dish bundles broadband and telephone services with its Dish branded pay-TV services. As of December 31, 2016, it had 0.580 million broadband subscribers in the United States. Dish lost approximately 43,000 net broadband subscribers during the FY-16 compared to the addition of approximately 46,000 net broadband subscribers during the same period in 2015. The company says that the net broadband subscriber losses during FY-16 primarily resulted from lower gross new broadband subscriber activations and a higher number of customer disconnects.

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    DISH buys EchoStar’s DBS & OTT assets; gives control over Sling TV customer experience

  • DishTV partners with ICICI for digital payments

    MUMBAI: DishTV has tied up with ICICI Bank by consolidated assets, to make payments and recharges easier. The association enables subscribers of the DTH platform to recharge their connections on any Unified Payment Interface (UPI) enabled app and through *99#, a National Unified USSD Platform (NUUP) in a hassle free and cashless manner.

    Dish TV India CEO Arun Kapoor said, “This is another customer oriented initiative in the DTH industry to recharge through UPI transactions. This alliance with ICICI Bank through UPI will drive higher customer adoption and allow them to be a part of the digital economy. This will also aid our vastly spread customers with or without internet access to recharge conveniently. The nation is becoming cashless, so are our DishTV subscribers.”

    With an aim to increase digital transactions, DishTV will be rolling out special offers for its customers. DishTV subscribers can benefit from 50 per cent cashback (up to Rs.100) on their first UPI merchant transaction from ICICI Bank’s iMobile or Pockets app.

    ICICI Bank senior general manager and head digital channels Abonty Banerjee added, “ICICI Bank has played a key role in conceptualizing the UPI initiative along with NPCI to bring in interoperability among banks for ease in payments. We are happy to be associated with Dish TV to launch a unique solution that enables customers to renew their subscriptions simply from ICICI Bank’s iMobile, Pockets and other UPI enabled apps like BHIM among others. I am confident that Dish TV consumers will widely use the solution.”

    A DishTV subscriber can make a payment to UPI ID which is specific for each subscriber in the format. Payments can also be made without using internet through NUUP. Customers have to just dial *99# from their mobile number registered with their respective bank accounts, select the option ‘send money’ and enter the UPI ID as the payment address for making the payment.

  • DishTV adds Discovery’s sports channel ‘DSports’

    MUMBAI: DishTV has added the newly launched sports channel ‘DSports’ from the house of Discovery Communications. With this addition, DishTV now offers a total of 13 sports channels in Standard Definition, the highest to be offered by any DTH service provide.

    The all new premium sports channel in India, ‘DSports’ aims to redefine sports engagement and provide viewers an unmatched ‘live’ sporting action from across the globe, through its dynamic coverage of sporting events. The channel will broadcast football from Brazilian League, Chinese Super League, Portuguese League, and Major League Soccer (USA); golf from British Open, US Open, PGA Championship and LPGA; NASCAR motor racing, and six Nations Rugby along with UK and Irish horse racing events.

    On diversifying DishTV’s sports portfolio, DishTV Indiab chief executive officer Arun Kapoor said, “Being a pioneer and the market leader, DishTV has always stood up to the promise of providing uninterrupted and unlimited entertainment to the subscribers. By adding ‘DSports’ we intend to align India’s sports culture with international sporting events, and offer global exposure to our subscribers. We are delighted with this addition and will continue to enrich our portfolio for the viewers.”

    ‘DSports’ offers a rich catalogue that covers 4000+ hours of ‘live’ content every year. The channel is available on DishTV platform on LCN 654. As a promotional offer, the channel is free to preview for DishTV subscribers for a limited period.