ITV

Tag: DTH customers

  • After Manthan, SitiCable tries to poach DTH customers

    After Manthan, SitiCable tries to poach DTH customers

    KOLKATA: Sometime back, city-headquartered Manthan Broadband Services announced a scheme to poach Dish TV customers after the DTH provider created sub-brand ‘Zing’ to offer STBs free of cost and target regional markets.

     

    Now, SitiCable Network is all set to follow in Manthan’s footsteps with an exchange scheme for DTH customers so they can opt for SitiCable services without having to pay anything for STBs as well as their installation in DAS I and II areas.

     

    According to Kolkata director Suresh Sethiya, the scheme called ‘Value for Money’ will be launched next month. Sethiya further informed that SitiCable is aiming to install another 3 lakh STBs in West Bengal by the end of April. “Customers choosing SitiCable services instead of their DTH service providers will also have the option of going for channel packages that regular customers get and this is a value for money proposition for them,” he added.

     

    How will SitiCable gain through the scheme? “Well, the scheme is to increase our market presence and not to increase our topline or bottomline. We want to be market leaders. And once we are able to convert DTH customers to our customers, we will think of monetizing it,” answered Sethiya.

     

    On the installation of an additional 3 lakh STBs, he said that the company was eager to increase its penetration in the state as cable TV digitisation was in full swing across the eastern region. “We would always try to retain its number one position here,” he said. “We are upbeat about our penetration and growth in West Bengal. In North Bengal too, we are looking at some acquisition and forming a joint venture with local partners.”

     

    While West Bengal is one of the most important markets for SitiCable in the eastern region, the company also has a good presence in Patna, Odisha and Jharkhand. A cable analyst said on the condition of anonymity, “The eastern region accounts for around 40 per cent of the revenue to SitiCable and is one of the most important markets for the company.”

     

    The company is also present in six out of the seven north-eastern states. Commenting on Manthan’s scheme and now SitiCable, the cable analyst said, “In the coming months, we expect more such announcements by players of different categories to poach each others’ business and clients.”

  • BSkyB’s revenues up eight per cen

    BSkyB’s revenues up eight per cen

    MUMBAI: UK pay TV service provider BSkyB has annnounced results for the year ended 30 June 2006.

    Revenue increased by eight per cent to £4.1 billion. Operating profit increased by seven per cent to £877 million, an operating margin of 21 per cent.

    DTH subscribers increased to 8.176 million, registering a growth of 77,000 in the final quarter and 389,000 in the year. Sky+ households increased by 75 per cent to 1.553 million. Multiroom households increased by 62 per cent to 1.047 million. This represents a 13 per cent penetration of total DTH subscribers.

    Preparations were made for the launch of Sky Broadband following the acquisition of Easynet Group. During the year, the company launched Sky HD, new customer management systems were implemented for all DTH customers and key rights to the FA Premier League secured for the 07/08 to 09/10 seasons.

    In addition were major contracts agreed with movie studio and third party channel partners. BSkyB also announced the creation of over 2,000 new jobs for customer advisors and home installation engineers.

    BsSkyB CEO James Murdoch said, “Our industry is changing faster than ever before and for Sky, 2006 has been an important and exciting year. The business and the team have performed well delivering good levels of customer growth, in line with our plans, and strong growth in both revenues and profitability.

    “We have a clear vision for the future growth and direction of our business and we feel encouraged by the strong demand our customers show for new entertainment and communications services. With a continued focus on providing more choice, flexibility and control, we feel confident as we look ahead to the substantial opportunity this market holds for us.”