ITV

Tag: DTH ops

  • Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroop signs up with three DTH ops

    Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroop signs up with three DTH ops

    MUMBAI: Even as theatre owners in Tamil Nadu threaten to boycott Kamal Haasan‘s Vishwaroopam, Raaj Kamal Films International, the production company owned by the Tamil superstar, has gone ahead and signed up with third direct-to-home (DTH) operator Dish TV to premiere the movie one day before its theatrical release.

    Vishwaroopam, the first ever Indian film to premiere on DTH before its theatrical release, had earlier signed up with Videocon d2h and Airtel digital TV.

    Dish TV along with Videocon d2h and Airtel digital TV will showcase the movie on 10 January, one day before its theatrical release on 11 January.

    Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association and Madurai-Ramanathapuram United Film Distributors, who have been opposing the actor‘s decision, have threatened to boycott the film if the actor doesn‘t reconsider his decision. The theatre owners have also urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to intervene and protect their interests.

    However, DTH operators feel the DTH premiere is an idea whose time has come. Even Haasan had made it clear that there was no going back on the decision to premiere it on DTH first.

    Says Dish TV COO Salil Kapoor, "It is an idea whose time has come; we are glad that the movie fraternity is looking at this technology as a new revenue stream. As a pioneer in the DTH space, this is yet another first to Dish TV‘s credit.

    This Indian spy thriller which is being writtend Directed and co-produced by Haasan is priced at Rs 1,000 per view for the Tamil version, if the subscriber books the order till 5 January. After 5 January, subscribers would need to pay Rs 1,200 per view.

    The Hindi and Telugu versions of the movie are priced at Rs. 500. Tamil and Telugu versions are called Vishwaroopam and Hindi version of the same is named Vishwaroop.

  • Reliance Bluemagic receives LoI for DTH ops

    Reliance Bluemagic receives LoI for DTH ops

    MUMBAI: The direct-to-home broadcasting segment is set to witness some more action with the government clearing the application of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Enterprises. The proposed DTH project under the brand name Reliance Bluemagic, a subsidiary of Reliance Energy, has received the letter of intent (LoI).

    This will be the fourth licence issued by the government to a private operator. Nonetheless, even after the letter of intent is issued, it would be a while before the letter of approval and an actual DTH license is handed over to the Reliance Bluemagic.

    According to sources close to the government and DTH developments, the information and broadcasting ministry has issued the LoI. “The absence of any foreign investment or partner has simplified matters,” the officials pointed out.

    When contacted, senior officials at Reliance refused comment on the developments.

    Once the letter of approval is issued, the company would be granted a licence after depositing a bank guarantees of Rs 100 million.

    Reliance Bluemagic had applied under for a DTH licence under the name ‘Reliance Skymagic last year. However, News Corp had issued a caution notice, asserting ‘Sky’ was its registered trademark under which the company runs its DTH operations in UK under the name of BSkyB. Consequently, the trademark Sky was also registered in India.

    In the present scenario, besides pubcaster Prasar Bharati, which manages DD Direct, there are two private DTH service providers. Dish TV and Tata-Sky already operating. Although South Indian media major Sun Group’s Sun Direct TV received the LoI last year, it has yet to kick off operations.

    The government has set stringent entry norms for DTH operators. According to the norms, the applicant has to be registered under the Indian Company’s Act, 1956, while its total foreign equity holding should not exceed 49 per cent, of which not more than 20 per cent should be the FDI component. It also says the applicant company must have Indian management control, with majority representatives on board, and the company’s CEO must be a resident Indian.

    Reliance’s presence in DTH, FM radio and other segments of media and entertainment means that the group will enable itself to leverage its brand across all platforms.