ITV

Category: DTH

  • Q2-16: DISH Network reports 27% profit hike, loses 281K pay-TV subscribers

    Q2-16: DISH Network reports 27% profit hike, loses 281K pay-TV subscribers

    BENGALURU: DISH Network Corp. (DISH) reported 26.52 percent increase in its net profit for the quarter ended 30 June 2016 (Q2-16, current quarter) at $ 410.46 million as compared to $ 324.42 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. Despite activating approximately 527,000 gross new pay-TV subscribers, net pay-TV subscribers declined approximately 281,000 in Q2-16. Comparatively, in Q2-15 approximately 638,000 gross new pay-TV subscribers were added with a net loss of approximately 81,000 pay-TV subscribers.

    DISH reported almost flat revenue (grew by 0.12 percent) in the current quarter of $ 3,837.04 million as compared to revenue of $ 3,832.29 million in Q2-15. Subscriber related revenue in Q2-16 grew 0.7 percent to $3,826.22 million as compared to $3,801.42 million in Q2-15.

    EBIDTA in Q2-16 declined slightly (2.7 percent) to $ 899.54 million from $ 924.45 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Subscribers, ARPU, SAC

    The company closed Q2-16 with 13.593 million pay-TV subscribers, compared to 13.932 million pay-TV subscribers at the end Q2-2015.

    DISH lost approximately 15,000 net broadband subscribers in the second quarter, bringing its broadband subscriber base to approximately 613,000.

    Pay-TV ARPU for Q2-16 totalled $89.98, compared to Q2-2015 pay-TV ARPU of $ 87.91. Pay-TV subscriber churn rate in the current quarter was higher at 1.96 percent versus 1.71 percent for Q2-2015.

    Pay-TV subscriber acquisition cost (SAC) in Q2-16 was $353.08 million as compared to $ 405.70 million in Q2-15.  Pay-TV SAC was $782 per subscriber during Q2-16 compared to $767 during Q2-15 an increase of $15 or 1.9 percent.  

    DISH says that this change was primarily attributable to an increase in advertising costs per activation, partially offset by a decrease in hardware costs per activation. The decrease in hardware costs per activation was primarily due to a higher percentage of remanufactured receivers being activated on new DISH branded pay-TV subscriber accounts and by a reduction in manufacturing costs related to certain receiver systems. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in the percentage of new DISH branded pay-TV subscriber activations with Hopper 3 receiver systems, which have a higher cost per unit than the prior generation Hopper receiver systems.

    Notes

    It may be noted that DISH includes all of its Sling TV subscribers in the company’s total pay-TV metrics, including in the pay-TV subscriber, pay-TV ARPU and pay-TV churn rate numbers set forth below. Sling TV subscribers are reported net of disconnects in DISH’s gross new pay-TV subscriber activations. The Sling branded pay-TV services consist of, among other things, live, linear streaming over-the-top (OTT) internet-based domestic, international and Latino video programming services.

    DISH markets broadband services under the dishNET™ brand in the United States.  In addition to the dishNET branded satellite broadband service, DISH also offers wireline voice and broadband services under the dishNET brand as a competitive local exchange carrier primarily to consumers living in a 14-state region in the western United States.  It primarily bundles dishNET branded services with its DISH branded pay-TV service.

    During Q1-2016 DISH made its next generation Hopper, the Hopper 3, availableto customers nationwide.  Among other things, the Hopper 3 features 16 tuners, delivers an enhanced 4K Ultra HD experience, and supports up to seven TVs simultaneously says the company.

  • DishTV kick launches special offerings for Karnataka

    DishTV kick launches special offerings for Karnataka

    MUMBAI: In order to cater to the needs of multilingual entertainment requirements for the Karnataka TV viewers/ subscribers; DishTV has come up with special offering in the state of Karnataka. These offerings will not only give maximum choice but will also offer them complete flexibility to choose the language of their choice. With this central theme, DishTV proudly stands for “Any language you speak, We have a pack for you.”

    In order to bridge the language barrier in the state of Karnataka with respect to entertainment, DishTV is all set to offer new and exciting offerings. These offerings are available to all viewers/ subscribers over and above with the existing base packs of Rs.99/ Rs.139/ Rs.169.

    Speaking on the addition, DishTV India CEO Arun Kumar Kapoor said, “Over the years we have observed the trend of the viewer preferences prevailing in the Karnataka market. They have an inclination for regional content. Karnataka being a highly multi-lingual state and keeping in mind the multi-lingual entertainment requirement in the state, DishTV has always been at the forefront to provide innovative solutions. In order to enhance the TV viewing experience for our subscribers in regional markets and to ensure that they enjoy seamless services with uninterrupted entertainment at cost effective rates DishTV has come with these special Kannada offerings.”

    Kannada Special offerings at attractive price points are as follows:

    Ø Kannada Special with kannada Language pack@ Rs.199 (Total 1 Language pack)

    Ø Kannada Special with kannada and 1 other Language Pack @ Rs.209 (Total 2 Language packs)

    Ø Kannada Special with kannada and 2 other Language packs @ Rs.225 (Total 3 Language packs)

    The subscribers can avail these special Kannada offerings on a reasonable amount of Rs. 199 including all Kannada channels and services, which is further enriched with more content like Kids, Sports, Movies, English News and Infotainment. Further customers will have options to choose Kannada special offering with one more language pack along with Kannada at Rs.209 and two more language packs along with Kannada at Rs. 225. The subscribers can choose from different language packs such as Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia and Marathi.

    On all new acquisition, subscribers can choose up to three language packs (one Kannada and 2 other language packs) till the offer period.

  • DishTV kick launches special offerings for Karnataka

    DishTV kick launches special offerings for Karnataka

    MUMBAI: In order to cater to the needs of multilingual entertainment requirements for the Karnataka TV viewers/ subscribers; DishTV has come up with special offering in the state of Karnataka. These offerings will not only give maximum choice but will also offer them complete flexibility to choose the language of their choice. With this central theme, DishTV proudly stands for “Any language you speak, We have a pack for you.”

    In order to bridge the language barrier in the state of Karnataka with respect to entertainment, DishTV is all set to offer new and exciting offerings. These offerings are available to all viewers/ subscribers over and above with the existing base packs of Rs.99/ Rs.139/ Rs.169.

    Speaking on the addition, DishTV India CEO Arun Kumar Kapoor said, “Over the years we have observed the trend of the viewer preferences prevailing in the Karnataka market. They have an inclination for regional content. Karnataka being a highly multi-lingual state and keeping in mind the multi-lingual entertainment requirement in the state, DishTV has always been at the forefront to provide innovative solutions. In order to enhance the TV viewing experience for our subscribers in regional markets and to ensure that they enjoy seamless services with uninterrupted entertainment at cost effective rates DishTV has come with these special Kannada offerings.”

    Kannada Special offerings at attractive price points are as follows:

    Ø Kannada Special with kannada Language pack@ Rs.199 (Total 1 Language pack)

    Ø Kannada Special with kannada and 1 other Language Pack @ Rs.209 (Total 2 Language packs)

    Ø Kannada Special with kannada and 2 other Language packs @ Rs.225 (Total 3 Language packs)

    The subscribers can avail these special Kannada offerings on a reasonable amount of Rs. 199 including all Kannada channels and services, which is further enriched with more content like Kids, Sports, Movies, English News and Infotainment. Further customers will have options to choose Kannada special offering with one more language pack along with Kannada at Rs.209 and two more language packs along with Kannada at Rs. 225. The subscribers can choose from different language packs such as Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia and Marathi.

    On all new acquisition, subscribers can choose up to three language packs (one Kannada and 2 other language packs) till the offer period.

  • Airtel targets Gujarat customers with S-VOD service

    Airtel targets Gujarat customers with S-VOD service

    MUMBAI: DTH operators are introducing an increasing number of value added services on their platforms in order to increase consumer delight.

    The latest to do so is Airtel Digital TV, the DTH arm (11.7 million subs) of India’s largest telecommunications provider Bharti Airtel. It has partnered with Shemaroo Entertainment, India’s leading entertainment content house, to launch “Relamchhel”– a subscription based video on demand service in Gujarati.

    Consumers will be able to access a whole new range of jokes, suvichar and traditional stand-up comedy from Gujarat. The new channel will also feature some riveting stage performances from noted actors like Siddharth Randeria, Ketaki Dave, Feroz Bhagat, Sanjay Goradia and many more and blockbuster Gujarati movies as well. Moreover, this service will also give users access to Shemaroo’s repository of some of the finest theatre performances from Gujarat.

    This ad free service is available at a nominal fee of Rs39/month and can be accessed on channel number 588 on Airtel Digital TV. To activate the service, Airtel Digital TV customers will have to give a missed call to 9109454545.

    Apart from a whole new range of jokes, suvichar and traditional stand-up comedy from Gujarat, the new channel will also feature some riveting stage performances from noted actors like Siddharth Randeria, Ketaki Dave, Feroz Bhagat, Sanjay Goradia and many more and blockbuster Gujarati movies as well. Moreover, this service will also give users access to Shemaroo’s repository of some of the finest theatre performances from Gujarat.

    Says Shemaroo Entertainment directo Hiren Gada: “We are glad to launchRelamchhel – a first ever Gujarati DTH service in the country on a DTH platform like Airtel Digital TV. A complete family entertainer, Relamchhel, is not only first of its kind but also gives our Gujarati theatre artists, a platform to be watched by millions. Regional entertainment is the next big thing in India and we’re happy to offer of a library which we have accumulated over the years and comprises of premium entertainment delivered by top artists of the industry.”

    Adds Airtel Digital TV chief marketing officer S. Sriram: “We are delighted to announce the launch of Relamchhel for our Gujarati viewers. Our vision is to bring the most compelling content for viewers across India and adapting to their changing requirements. The launch of this new SVOD service is another concrete step in that direction.”

    The ad free service has a sticket price of Rs39 a month and can be accessed on channel number 588 on Airtel Digital TV. To activate the service, Airtel Digital TV customers will have to give a missed call to 9109454545.

  • Airtel targets Gujarat customers with S-VOD service

    Airtel targets Gujarat customers with S-VOD service

    MUMBAI: DTH operators are introducing an increasing number of value added services on their platforms in order to increase consumer delight.

    The latest to do so is Airtel Digital TV, the DTH arm (11.7 million subs) of India’s largest telecommunications provider Bharti Airtel. It has partnered with Shemaroo Entertainment, India’s leading entertainment content house, to launch “Relamchhel”– a subscription based video on demand service in Gujarati.

    Consumers will be able to access a whole new range of jokes, suvichar and traditional stand-up comedy from Gujarat. The new channel will also feature some riveting stage performances from noted actors like Siddharth Randeria, Ketaki Dave, Feroz Bhagat, Sanjay Goradia and many more and blockbuster Gujarati movies as well. Moreover, this service will also give users access to Shemaroo’s repository of some of the finest theatre performances from Gujarat.

    This ad free service is available at a nominal fee of Rs39/month and can be accessed on channel number 588 on Airtel Digital TV. To activate the service, Airtel Digital TV customers will have to give a missed call to 9109454545.

    Apart from a whole new range of jokes, suvichar and traditional stand-up comedy from Gujarat, the new channel will also feature some riveting stage performances from noted actors like Siddharth Randeria, Ketaki Dave, Feroz Bhagat, Sanjay Goradia and many more and blockbuster Gujarati movies as well. Moreover, this service will also give users access to Shemaroo’s repository of some of the finest theatre performances from Gujarat.

    Says Shemaroo Entertainment directo Hiren Gada: “We are glad to launchRelamchhel – a first ever Gujarati DTH service in the country on a DTH platform like Airtel Digital TV. A complete family entertainer, Relamchhel, is not only first of its kind but also gives our Gujarati theatre artists, a platform to be watched by millions. Regional entertainment is the next big thing in India and we’re happy to offer of a library which we have accumulated over the years and comprises of premium entertainment delivered by top artists of the industry.”

    Adds Airtel Digital TV chief marketing officer S. Sriram: “We are delighted to announce the launch of Relamchhel for our Gujarati viewers. Our vision is to bring the most compelling content for viewers across India and adapting to their changing requirements. The launch of this new SVOD service is another concrete step in that direction.”

    The ad free service has a sticket price of Rs39 a month and can be accessed on channel number 588 on Airtel Digital TV. To activate the service, Airtel Digital TV customers will have to give a missed call to 9109454545.

  • Dish TV to introduce card-less set top boxes

    Dish TV to introduce card-less set top boxes

    MUMBAI: Dish TV India is looking at moving away from set top boxes requiring smart cards for subscribers to its satellite pay TV service. This is likely to take place over the next three or four months.

    Last weekend, India’s largest DTH provider announced that it had selected Rambus’ Cryptomedia security platform for use in its pay TV satellite system. The platform, which includes a hardware root-of-trust embedded in the set-top box chipset, ensures secure distribution of premium content for cable and satellite operators while eliminating the need for a smart card and enhancing usability of the set-top box.

    “As we look to grow our customer base from the current 13 million subscribers, the demand for cost-effective and robust content protection solutions becomes increasingly important for consumers seeking premium content,” said Dish TV India managing director Jawahar Goel. “By leveraging the embedded CryptoMedia core, we no longer need a smart card to provide secure access to premium content, significantly reducing the cost and improving the security of the set-top box.”

    The CryptoMedia Content Protection Core, developed by Rambus Cryptography Research, is one of several new security elements to be integrated in Dish TV India’s latest set-top boxes. Together with the CryptoMedia operator services, the solution provides a flexible security foundation that allows Dish TV India to easily update and reconfigure software and hardware security throughout the lifecycle of the set-top box. Dish TV India will launch the new platform in broad commercial operation later this year.

    “By using the CryptoMedia Content Protection Core, Dish TV India recognizes the value of enabling another level of protection in the set-top box chipset alongside security elements provided by CAS vendors,” said Martin Scott, senior vice president and general manager of the Security Division at Rambus. “Our CryptoMedia Security Platform provides Dish TV India with extra protection for the delivery of content, utilizing our expertise in both embedded security and ecosystem enablement.”

    Formerly part of the CryptoFirewall family, the CryptoMedia Content Protection Core is designed to provide strong security and superior system design flexibility for premium content distribution. The solution minimizes the risk of security failure and helps simplify product development. The core is available in a broad range of set-top box and smart TV chipsets and is compatible with the leading CAS and DRM systems to prevent unauthorized access to content and services, including features like pay-per-view and service-tier upgrades.

  • Dish TV to introduce card-less set top boxes

    Dish TV to introduce card-less set top boxes

    MUMBAI: Dish TV India is looking at moving away from set top boxes requiring smart cards for subscribers to its satellite pay TV service. This is likely to take place over the next three or four months.

    Last weekend, India’s largest DTH provider announced that it had selected Rambus’ Cryptomedia security platform for use in its pay TV satellite system. The platform, which includes a hardware root-of-trust embedded in the set-top box chipset, ensures secure distribution of premium content for cable and satellite operators while eliminating the need for a smart card and enhancing usability of the set-top box.

    “As we look to grow our customer base from the current 13 million subscribers, the demand for cost-effective and robust content protection solutions becomes increasingly important for consumers seeking premium content,” said Dish TV India managing director Jawahar Goel. “By leveraging the embedded CryptoMedia core, we no longer need a smart card to provide secure access to premium content, significantly reducing the cost and improving the security of the set-top box.”

    The CryptoMedia Content Protection Core, developed by Rambus Cryptography Research, is one of several new security elements to be integrated in Dish TV India’s latest set-top boxes. Together with the CryptoMedia operator services, the solution provides a flexible security foundation that allows Dish TV India to easily update and reconfigure software and hardware security throughout the lifecycle of the set-top box. Dish TV India will launch the new platform in broad commercial operation later this year.

    “By using the CryptoMedia Content Protection Core, Dish TV India recognizes the value of enabling another level of protection in the set-top box chipset alongside security elements provided by CAS vendors,” said Martin Scott, senior vice president and general manager of the Security Division at Rambus. “Our CryptoMedia Security Platform provides Dish TV India with extra protection for the delivery of content, utilizing our expertise in both embedded security and ecosystem enablement.”

    Formerly part of the CryptoFirewall family, the CryptoMedia Content Protection Core is designed to provide strong security and superior system design flexibility for premium content distribution. The solution minimizes the risk of security failure and helps simplify product development. The core is available in a broad range of set-top box and smart TV chipsets and is compatible with the leading CAS and DRM systems to prevent unauthorized access to content and services, including features like pay-per-view and service-tier upgrades.

  • DTH channels being launched by September to impart education: Javadekar

    DTH channels being launched by September to impart education: Javadekar

    NEW DELHI: Even as there is little possibility of Gyan Darshan getting revived on the television screen, 32 Direct to Home (DTH) Television Channels are to be used for providing high quality educational content to all teachers, students and citizens across the country interested in lifelong learning.

    The 32 channels are proposed to be launched before September 2016. Initially the programmes will be in English but with the passage of time the programmes will be launched in regional languages as well.

    Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar told the Lok Sabha today that the Government has approved a project to launch the ‘SWAYAM Prabha.’ There will be new content of four hours every day, which would be telecast six times a day allowing the student to choose the time of his/her convenience.

    The main features of SWAYAM Prabha would be curriculum based course contents covering diverse disciplines such as arts, science, commerce, performing arts, social sciences and humanities subjects, engineering, technology, law, medicine, agriculture etc.

    It would also cover all level of education: School education, undergraduate, postgraduate, engineering, out of school children, vocational courses and teacher training.

    Gyan Darshan and Gyan Vani had been stopped on Doordarshan and All India Radio respectively when the Indira Gandhi National Open University failed to clear huge dues to the pubcaster for these channels.

    However, these channels were later launched on the web, which was felt to be a bad alternative as the majority did not have access to internet.

    IGNOU owed more than Rs 21.6 crore to All India Radio when it was shut on 30 September after the university failed to pay the outstanding dues for three years (for their 37 stations).

    Gyan Darshan had been stopped even earlier in the beginning of 2014. It was also learnt byindiantelevision.com that IGNOU had applied to WPC for a licence to run television channels, but had been refused by the Department of Telecom which had told them that only Doordarshan can apply for such a channel. DD had refused to apply for the channel on behalf of IGNOU in view of the report by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India which bars allotment of licences to government bodies to start their own channels.

  • DTH channels being launched by September to impart education: Javadekar

    DTH channels being launched by September to impart education: Javadekar

    NEW DELHI: Even as there is little possibility of Gyan Darshan getting revived on the television screen, 32 Direct to Home (DTH) Television Channels are to be used for providing high quality educational content to all teachers, students and citizens across the country interested in lifelong learning.

    The 32 channels are proposed to be launched before September 2016. Initially the programmes will be in English but with the passage of time the programmes will be launched in regional languages as well.

    Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar told the Lok Sabha today that the Government has approved a project to launch the ‘SWAYAM Prabha.’ There will be new content of four hours every day, which would be telecast six times a day allowing the student to choose the time of his/her convenience.

    The main features of SWAYAM Prabha would be curriculum based course contents covering diverse disciplines such as arts, science, commerce, performing arts, social sciences and humanities subjects, engineering, technology, law, medicine, agriculture etc.

    It would also cover all level of education: School education, undergraduate, postgraduate, engineering, out of school children, vocational courses and teacher training.

    Gyan Darshan and Gyan Vani had been stopped on Doordarshan and All India Radio respectively when the Indira Gandhi National Open University failed to clear huge dues to the pubcaster for these channels.

    However, these channels were later launched on the web, which was felt to be a bad alternative as the majority did not have access to internet.

    IGNOU owed more than Rs 21.6 crore to All India Radio when it was shut on 30 September after the university failed to pay the outstanding dues for three years (for their 37 stations).

    Gyan Darshan had been stopped even earlier in the beginning of 2014. It was also learnt byindiantelevision.com that IGNOU had applied to WPC for a licence to run television channels, but had been refused by the Department of Telecom which had told them that only Doordarshan can apply for such a channel. DD had refused to apply for the channel on behalf of IGNOU in view of the report by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India which bars allotment of licences to government bodies to start their own channels.

  • Research and Markets’ World DTH TV Update for 2015

    Research and Markets’ World DTH TV Update for 2015

    MUMBAI: What’s driving DTH subscriber growth globally? According to research firm, Research and Markets’ (R&M’s) latest report, World DTH Market End 2015, almost one third of pay TV satellite growth is a result of telecom companies making DTH offers.

    Telecoms players’ foray into extending their current portfolios along with strategy of selling bundles is the reason behind this..

    The market research outfit says that DTH television is growing in all regions, excepting in the US where it has gone down. Latin America has added the maximum DTH subs growing from 14 million in 2010 to 35 million in 2015 – a compounded annual growth rate of 20 per cent.

    Next to Latin America the other region growing fast is APAC at a CAGR of 17 per cent followed by Middle-East Africa (MEA) at a CAGR of 15 per cent. Europe has grown at a CAGR of 5 per cent for 2010-15.

    The author has tracked tracks TV subscribers quarterly based on technology type – Cable, DTT, IPTV and DTH. The report analyses the DTH pay TV subscribers globally and the share of telecom operators in the DTH space.