ITV

Category: DTH

  • Tata Sky chooses Elemental Technologies for 4K video service

    Tata Sky chooses Elemental Technologies for 4K video service

    MUMBAI: Direct-to-home (DTH) operator Tata Sky has chosen Elemental Technologies’ software to process Ultra HD live linear content in high-efficiency video coding (HEVC/H.265) for delivery to Tata Sky 4K-ready set-top boxes.

     

    Elemental Technologies is a supplier of software-defined video solutions for multiscreen content delivery. Selected by Tata Sky based on its reliable delivery of high-quality live 4K content in HEVC, Elemental is the sole video processing software selected for the subcontinent’s first commercial 4K service delivered to end-users.

     

    A joint venture between the Tata Group and 21st Century Fox, Tata Sky deployed the latest 4K service and set-top boxes in advance of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 tournament currently underway in Australia and New Zealand. Software-based Elemental Live systems perform real time processing of Tata Sky 4K content in HEVC at 60/50fps for linear streaming to Tata Sky 4K STBs.

     

    “We pride ourselves for being at the forefront of technology and delivering world class TV experiences to our viewers. The Tata Sky 4K service is an example of not only keeping up with changing times, but in fact giving our viewers a pioneering technology that the world would follow. The seamless integration between Ericsson and Elemental HEVC compression technology for live 4K streaming enables us to reinforce our technology and industry leadership positions, further adding to our delighted subscriber base,” said Tata Sky CEO and managing director Harit Nagpal.

     

    “Tata Sky has selected Elemental video processing to bring 4K content programming to the India market. We are proud to provide Tata Sky with our software-defined video solutions to deliver unbeatable picture quality,” added Elemental Technologies senior vice president worldwide sales Dan Marshall.

     

    The new generation 4K UHD Tata Sky STB is capable of delivering Ultra HD picture quality and Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 surround sound. Viewers can enjoy 8.3 megapixel (3840×2160) video, which is approximately four times the pixel count compared to the current HD standard, offering far greater clarity and more vivid colors on screen. In addition to 4K content, the set-top box also showcases standard definition (SD) and HD TV channels.

     

    Elemental will also showcase its suite of software-defined video solutions at the NexTV Summit in Mumbai on 7 April, 2015.

  • Tata Sky expands content offering; to add 20 channels

    Tata Sky expands content offering; to add 20 channels

    MUMBAI: By introducing a new compression technology to its network, Direct To Home (DTH) operator Tata Sky will soon be adding 20 new channels to its platform including an unspecified number of HD channels.

     

    At present, Tata Sky offers 300 channels. The upgrade work meanwhile has hurt close to 17,000 subscribers who received disrupted services during the last few days. The DTH operator has a subscription base of 10 million active subscribers.

     

    According to a PTI report, Tata Sky CEO Harit Nagpal said that the company had got additional capacity due to its timely decision to shift from MPEG 2 format to MPEG 4 format. “It cost us money, but helped us,” he said.

     

    Due to the digitisation programme, Tata Sky is expecting the DTH industry to add four million subscribers every year. Nagpal foresees the industry to grow in the next five to six years as there is enough opportunity since digitisation of analogue delivery system of home cable TV is in progress.

     

    The operator is also undergoing a tariff hike for its subscribers. “Every year, we go for a price hike in March, which is roughly four per cent. Last year, it was Rs 230 and this year we have increased it to Rs 240,” he told PTI.

     

    The company has average revenue per user (ARPU) of Rs 250 and has a growth of over five per cent on a year-on-year basis. Nagpal stated that Tata Sky would like to keep its ARPU constant and grow its base by adding customers from small places.

     

    He also informed that the disruption in services was because the platform changed compression standards every three to four months. To address the concerns of its customers, the DTH operator has sent its engineers to their place to resolve the issue.

  • DTH cos depend on foreign satellites due to Ku Band capacity shortage in Indian satellites

    DTH cos depend on foreign satellites due to Ku Band capacity shortage in Indian satellites

    NEW DELHI: Indian direct-to-home operators depend on foreign satellites due to shortage of Ku band transponders on Indian satellites.

    The Parliament was informed on 11 March that a total of 77.89 (36 MHz equivalent) Ku band transponders are used by Indian DTH operators for DTH services.

     

    Out of a total of 77.89 transponders, 19 transponders are in INSAT/GSAT satellites and 58.89 leased from foreign satellites. 

    The DTH service providers are using foreign satellites since sufficient capacity of Ku Band transponders is not available in INSAT/GSAT satellites, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh said. 

    The commercial, societal and defence service users have been using their allocated capacity as per their usage plan subject to receipt of regulatory approvals. 

     

    The allocation process is in progress for about 46 transponders (in C, Extended-C and Ku Bands), which are vacant at present. 

     

    Dr Singh had said recently that a total of six communication satelites – GSAT-15, GSAT-9, GSAT-6, GSAT-6A, GSAT-7A and GSAT-11 – are being developed indigenously as part of the XII Five Year Plan (2012-17).

     

    A total of 95 Ku-band (a part of K band) transponders onboard indigenous communication satellites are being utilised for various communication applications, he had told Parliament last month.

  • Videocon appoints Akshay Dhoot as head of technology

    Videocon appoints Akshay Dhoot as head of technology

    MUMBAI: Videocon has appointed Akshay Dhoot as head of technology. He brings in a fresh vision and energy towards the futuristic technology in the field of home appliances and consumer electronics. 

    In his new role, Dhoot will be instrumental in formulating technologically advanced products at Videocon and transforming the consumer electronics segment into a next-gen enterprise.

     

    A graduate from the University of Warwick, UK, Dhoot pursued his bachelor’s in engineering specialising in manufacturing and automotive design. He has worked across Videocon Group companies and has also played a vital role in service, manufacturing and R&D sector for CE&HA and Videocon d2h.

     

    Dhoot said, “The power of technology with frugal engineering has always fascinated me and I have envisioned transforming and enriching the user experience. I believe that there are infinite possibilities when it comes to technology out there, ready to be explored, and this is what my role at Videocon defines. This is an exciting and challenging phase for Videocon where we are launching many breakthrough products. With my passion and dedication, I foresee each and every product at the business armed with advanced technology and aim to take Videocon to greater heights.”

  • DTH players react to Budget 2015

    DTH players react to Budget 2015

    MUMBAI: Some time before the presentation of the budget, the Direct-To-Home (DTH) Operators’ Association of India had sent its wish list to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) asking for certain demands to be fulfilled for the sector. The Budget 2015 saw a strong no-no with an increase in service tax from the current 12.36 per cent to 14 per cent and the demands not being fulfilled. Additionally, the date for the roll out of Goods and Service Tax (GST) has been announced.

    Expressing his displeasure on the same, Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera tells Indiantelevision.com, “The DTH and cable sector were ignored in the budget. The hike in the service tax will further be passed on to the consumers through the packs. Nothing from the wish list was taken into account.”

     

    It may be recalled that the wish list had asked the service tax for DTH services to be put in the negative list of service tax. It had also demanded for infrastructure status for the DTH sector.
     
    When asked for his reaction to the budget, DTH Operators’ Association president and Dish TV CEO RC Venkateish opines that he is happy that the GST date has been announced, while it was already known that the increase in service tax would be increased in two stages. “While the announcement of the GST date i.e 1 April, 2016 will have benefits, for the short term one would pay that extra one per cent, which is not material. The GST implementation will give us a substantial reduction in overall taxes,” he says.

     

    Echoing his thoughts on the Budget 2015, Tata Sky CEO Harit Nagpal says that he was hoping that at least one of the two taxes that the industry pays to the Centre and the State would be absorbed, which did not happen. “We are the only industry that pays service tax to the Centre and entertainment tax to the state,” says Nagpal. 

     

    According to him, this long standing demand to negate one of the taxes was not granted and instead what one saw was the service tax being hiked. Differing with Khera’s point of view, Nagpal informs that the increase will not be passed on to the subscribers through an increase in price packs as the amount is minimal which is one per cent.

  • CASBAA India Forum 2015: New Era, New Opportunities

    CASBAA India Forum 2015: New Era, New Opportunities

    Mumbai: CASBAA’s annual stop in the South Asian sub-continent will bring together a host of local and international speakers at the India Forum 2015 on Monday, March 23 at Shangri-La’s Eros Hotel in New Delhi.

     

    “Reflecting India’s continued importance and influence in the Asia Pacific region, CASBAA’s annual overview of this vibrant broadcasting market attracts the very best speakers from within the country and around the world,” said CASBAA CEO Christopher Slaughter.  “As the television industry continues to evolve not only in India but across the globe, it truly feels as if we have entered into a new era of broadcasting and this forum is dedicated to the exploration of the vast opportunities now available to industry stakeholders.”

     

    “New Era, New Opportunities,” this year’s theme for the CASBAA India Forum 2015, captures the essence of television in the country. Spurred by the plan to digitize the cable television sector, the Indian TV industry has been invigorated with the promise of increased transparency, pay revenues and access to content.

     

    However, after the first two phases of digitisation, digital rollout seems to have plateaued. Has over-regulation taken the sheen off digitisation or are there other activities taking place that are not plainly evident? And, are stakeholders finally ready to iron out their differences for the greater common good?

     

     CASBAA has assembled a diverse roster of expert speakers to debate this issue along with a variety of other important topics paving the way for India’s continued growth such as audience measurement, media regulations, advertising, new technology, satellite spectrum and much more.

     

     Among the industry experts expected to attend this year are Raghav Bahl (MD, Quintillion Media), Paul Brown-Kenyon (CEO, MEASAT), Prashant Butani (Senior Analyst, NSR), Nicholas Daly (MD, Eutelsat), Partho Dasgupta (CEO, BARC), Tony D’silva (CEO & MD, Media, Hinduja Group), Vynsley Fernandes (CEO, Castle Media), Smita Jha (Leader, Entertainment and Media, PwC India), Rajiv Khattar (President – South Asia, ABS), L.V. Krishnan (CEO, TAM Media Research (India)), Deepak Mathur (SVP Commercial, Asia-Pacific and Middle East, SES), Harit Nagpal (CEO & MD, Tata Sky), Sushruta Samanta (Business Head, Asia Pacific, International Business, Zee Entertainment), Adil Zainulbhai (Chairman, Nerwork18 & Board Member, RIL) and many others. This year, corporate partners for the CASBAA India Forum 2015 include Supporting Sponsor SES and Sponsors Eutelsat, MEASAT and TMT Law Practice.

     

    For more information about the CASBAA India Forum 2015 and to register for tickets,

     

    please visit http://www.casbaa.com/events/events-calendar/details/505-casbaa-india-forum-2015.

  • Dish TV aims to boost ARPU with differential pricing strategy

    Dish TV aims to boost ARPU with differential pricing strategy

    MUMBAI: Taking the path that cable operators often do, Direct To Home (DTH) operator Dish TV has decided to offer differential pricing across different cities.

     

    Dish TV chief operating officer Salil Kapoor tells Indiantelevision.com that with the DTH operator having over 40 High Definition (HD) channels and superior quality, the consumers would not mind the “marginal jump.”

     

    According to Kapoor, Indian consumers can no longer be treated as “one size fits all,” especially in metro segments. Kapoor believes that the consumer today has the capacity to pay slightly more for a quality product. “This differential pricing is our strategy to give a boost to our Average Revenue Per User (ARPU),” Kapoor informs.

     

    As part of the first phase, metro cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Pune will be targeted. Each pack in these four cities will now cost an additional Rs 10. The revised prices came into effect from 26 February, 2015.  

     

    Dish TV has already introduced differential pricing for its regional brand, Zing. While in Maharashtra, the pack price is pegged at Rs 189, in the state of Odisha it has been priced at Rs 175. Since the strategy worked successfully for its sub brand Zing, Kapoor is of the opinion that it would also work for Dish TV. 

     

    While the packages have currently been introduced for the metros, no decision on other cities has been taken as yet.

  • Videocon teams up with Cisco for 4K broadcast

    Videocon teams up with Cisco for 4K broadcast

    MUMBAI: Direct-to-Home (DTH) company Videocon d2h tied hands with Cisco AnyRes Live UHD Encoders to launch its 4K-enabled Ultra High Definition viewing experience.

     

    This is the global launch of Cisco’s 4K encoder and a redefinition of TV viewing. The 4K encoder brings best-in-class quality for real-time media delivery applications such as live sports and 24-hour programming. The announcement comes in the midst of the on-going ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

     

    4K resolution offers 8.3 million pixels to display a high definition picture even when viewed up close. This comprehensive platform can be scaled up to stream multiple formats to any device, including iPhone, iPad, feature phones, and smartphones, as well as delivering pristine Ultra HD video to televisions.

     

    Technical highlights:

     

    • Delivers highest quality encoding using an HEVC/H.265 codec developed by Cisco

    • Wide range of frame rates from 24 fps all the way up to 60 fps

    • Virtually flawless pictures achieved with 10 bit colour depth

    • Reliable transmission with an UHD input front end offering robust synchronisation to the live signal feeds

    • Capable of SD, HD, Full HD or Multi format ABR encoding using H.264 as well as H.265

    • Various baseband graphics processing features, including logo insertion.

     

    The launch of 4K encoders on the Videocon d2h platform marks the first ever deployment of Cisco AnyRes Live UHD Encoder in the world and will be followed shortly by two more customer deployments in Asia Pacific.

  • Dish TV fortifies sports packaging for ICC Cricket World Cup

    Dish TV fortifies sports packaging for ICC Cricket World Cup

    MUMBAI: Cricket fans are currently glued to their television sets as the ICC Cricket World Cup kicked off this past weekend. Service providers such as Airtel Digital TV, Videocon d2h, Tata Sky, Sun Direct and Dish TV too are celebrating the onset of the event.

     

    While Tata Sky and Videocon d2h are pushing their 4K set top boxes, DTH operator Dish TV has decided to fortify its sports packaging to offer a maximum of 12 sports channels during the gala event.

     

    When asked how the DTH platform planned ahead of the World Cup, Dish TV chief operating officer Salil Kapoor says, “We conducted a pan India consumer survey, which revealed that the millennial generation has tremendous interest in sports and that HD is the preferred choice for watching sports. The research also showed an interesting angle that usually in a family its only one person who is interested in sports, the rest are still focused on GEC, movies, music etc.”

     

    Kapoor further says that keeping these insights in mind, the platform re-looked at its packaging. “First we decided to up the HD quotient and added maximum number of HD channels. We now have 39 HD channels. We even fortified our sports packaging, offering maximum sports channels (12) in India,” he informs.

     

    When quizzed about his views on a few DTH platforms focussing on the launch of 4K, which has limited content, Kapoor opines that while 4K is definitively a superior technology, the content for this technology is minimal in India. According to him the sale of DTH HD boxes is directly proportional with the sale of LCD TVs, which constitutes around 65-70 per cent in India, whereas 4K TVs are far too expensive and marginal compared to LCDs.

     

    “It will take some time for this technology to pick up in India and broadcasters to start producing content in 4K. Till then HD will dominate the content market. Understanding this, we introduced 39 HD channels, which are the highest in the country,” he says.

     

    Talking about how the repackaging will help the platform, Kapoor says that they call it a “cricket plus approach,” which highlights something for everyone to enjoy in High Definition.

     

    “The consumer has already taken notice of our enhanced services and the numbers have started ringing in. We will expand our new consumer base significantly. The marketing activities are planned to promote the HD edge that we have as a brand,” he concludes.

  • DD Freedish revenue from e-auctions to reach Rs 120 crore by March

    DD Freedish revenue from e-auctions to reach Rs 120 crore by March

    NEW DELHI: Doordarshan’s free-to-air direct-to-home Freedish platform, which was telecasting 59 channels until recently has added two more channels to its kitty. What’s more, the platform is further looking at adding three more channels to its offerings soon, taking the total number of channels to 64.

     

    In fact, another channel will come on board the platform before the end of the month, according to deputy director general C K Jain.

     

    Clarifying the situation, Jain told Indiantlevision.com that 61 channels had been allotted and another three would be allotted shortly. The last two channels to be allotted were Sony Pal and Dillagi, which is still to go on air.

     

    A total of 20 e-auctions have been held so far, the latest being earlier this week. DD expects to reach a target of Rs 120 crore through these auctions by the end of March this year.

     

    Doordarshan had set a reserve price of Rs 3.7 crore per slot for the 20th online e-auction, though Indiantelevision.com learnt that the bid amount went up to Rs 4.2 crore in the 17th e-auction held on 12 November.

     

    The attempt is to touch the target of 112 television channels in the next few months, Jain said. He said that the delay had been partly due to some technical problems, which were being sorted.

     

    Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar had said recently that the future of Doordarshan was in Freedish and digitisation. He had added that this may mean that some channels would have to be attracted to Freedish by means other than e-auction.

     

    DD sources also said that while Freedish may be encrypted to keep a tab on the number of subscribers, it would however remain free-to-air.

     

    As all these channels are on MPEG2. Freedish, which uses Insat 4B, is migrating from its old platform to a new upgraded platform with MPEG4 in an attempt to increase its capacity. The migration would result in increase of TV channels from 59 to 64 and radio channels from 22 to 24.

     

    Sircar had said in November that while most were coming through e-auctions, some popular channels may have to be ‘attracted’ to join Freedish since satellite television was the future.  

     

    To access the upgraded platform, the viewers need to edit the transponder parameter by changing only the symbol rate from 27500Ksps to 28500 Ksps in four transponders and retune/rescan their Set Top Box (STB) to receive the upgraded TV and radio channels.

     

    Viewers/subscribers who do not rescan their STB will continue to get ten channels for a period of seven days only from the date of upgradation. Out of these ten channels, one channel is an informative channel, which will show detailed procedure for re-tuning the STBs.