ITV

Tag: DTH

  • Marathi news channel Maharashtra 1 set to beam on Tata Sky

    Marathi news channel Maharashtra 1 set to beam on Tata Sky

    MUMBAI: The Nikhil Waghle led 24×7 Marathi news channel Maharashtra 1, which started its service in September last year, is all set to hop on to the Tata Sky direct to home (DTH) platform.

    Tata Sky will be the first DTH platform that the channel will mark its presence on. 

    Maharashtra 1 will be a free-to-air channel available on channel number 802.

    “We are currently present on all the multi-system operators (MSOs) except UCN Nagpur. Now with a presence on Tata Sky, we have made a move towards DTH. We decided to go ahead with Tata Sky because it’s a premium platform and fits the bill for a premium channel like ours,” said a channel official.

  • Status Report: Q3-2016: DAS Phase III deadline no great shakes for DTH industry

    Status Report: Q3-2016: DAS Phase III deadline no great shakes for DTH industry

    BENGALURU: Contrary to expectations that the sunset date of 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2016 in financial terms in India) would rake in good numbers for the DTH industry for the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2015, current quarter), results declared by three of the seven players in the country show not much of a change.

    Refer to Fig A below, which shows a quarter-on-quarter change in subscriber numbers. Though Airtel DTH and Videocon d2h have both shown a small spike in subscriber additions between Q2-2016 and Q3-2016, overall taking the combined addition in subscription numbers by all the three, the change was just 3.59 per cent. In the case of the third player – Dish TV, it witnessed the lowest growth over a five quarter period starting Q3-2015 until the current quarter at 2.19 per cent

    Note: (1)100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore.

    (2) This report covers only the three of the seven DTH service providers in India (as had the previous two reports) since the other four – Reliance Digital TV, Sun Direct (about 97 lakh subscribers as on 31 March, 2015), Tata Sky and DD Free Dish are not listed directly on the bourses and their financial numbers are not available, unless the principals of these companies/segments chose to reveal them. The three players – Airtel DTH, Dish TV and Videocon d2h have already been covered in our earlier reports.

    (3) Some of the players mention their financial as well as subscription numbers in millions in their financial reports/investor presentations and other documents that they make available publicly. The financial numbers have been converted to Rs crore and subscription number to lakh to an approximation, and percentages have been mentioned to the second decimal place approximation.

    (4) There could be some ambiguity about the market share of the three players. If one were to go by the latest numbers released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in February 2016 for September 2015. TRAI’s indicator report says that the number of registered DTH subscribers as on 30 September, 2015 was 814.7 lakh. The combined subscription numbers of the three players as on the same day as reported by them individually was 351.16 lakh and hence the market share of these players works out to 43.10 per cent. However, TRAI’s report also says that the number of active DTH subscribers as on 30 September, 2015 was 410.5 lakh. Based on the second TRAI number, the combined total subscriber market share of the three players in this paper works out to 85.54 per cent. Though, the combined share of subscribers of the three players has declined between Q1-2016 and Q2-2016, based on TRAI numbers, the author contends that it is safe to assume that the three players have more than 50 per cent market share in India in terms of subscribers.

    (5) Videocon d2h EBIDTA numbers are adjusted.

    Although in absolute numbers, Q3-2016 saw probably the highest subscriber additions by the three players per quarter over the past few quarters, in percentage terms it was slightly lower at 3.59 per cent in the current quarter as compared to 3.62 per cent in Q1-2016. Overall, the three players in this report have mentioned a combined net addition of 12.6 lakh subscribers in Q3-2016. In Q1-2016, the three had reported a combined net addition of 11.99 lakh subscribers.

    Dish TV managing director Jawahar Goel said, “We continued to build our pan-India reach during the quarter. However, as expected, despite analogue sunset there was no real spike in consumer demand from Phase III markets thus making it an ordinary quarter from that perspective. Later, changing gears to align with the current industry trend, we tweaked our subscription packages to a more versatile and seemingly economical offering. Mandatory digitisation however is expected to pick up speed and our key focus going forward would be to gain market share both in terms of subscribers and profitability.”

    Of the three, Airtel DTH added the highest number of subscribers in Q3-2016, about six lakh subscribers. Further, among the three players, Dish TV has the largest subscriber base – about 140 lakh, followed by Videocon d2h with 112.7 lakh and Airtel DTH with 111.06 lakh subscribers. In terms of revenue, it is Dish TV that leads with the highest revenue, followed by Airtel DTH, with Videocon d2h among the 3 players in this report.

    Please refer to the figure below. Panel A indicates the combined numbers of the three players, Panels B, C and D indicate the playout of revenue, EBIDTA and subscription base for Airtel DTH, Dish TV and Videocon d2h respectively, panel E indicates ARPU and panel F monthly subscriber churn.

    Please refer to Panel A in the graphs above. The combined revenues of the three players in the current quarter grew 17.24 per cent year on year (YoY) to Rs 2,245.17 crore from Rs Rs 1,915.01 crore and grew 4.46 per cent quarter on quarter (QoQ) as compared to Rs 2149.32 crore. EBIDTA increased 41.35 per cent YoY in Q3-2016 to Rs 710.51 crore (31.65 per cent margin) from Rs 503.65 crore (26.25 per cent margin) and grew 4.44 per cent QoQ from Rs 680.30 crore (31.65 per cent margin). Reported Combined Subscription numbers in Q2-2016 grew 13.22 per cent YoY to 363.76 lakh from 321.3 lakh and grew 3.59 per cent QoQ from 351.16 lakh.

    Please refer to panel F above. All the three players have reported a monthly subscriber churn of around 0.7 per cent in the current quarter, as compared to a high of 1.3 per cent in Q2-2016.

    Airtel DTH

    Airtel’s DTH segment contributes about four per cent to the telecom giant’s overall revenue. Revenue for the DTH segment in Q3-2016 increased 19 per cent to Rs 742.2 crore, up 19 per cent YoY as compared to Rs 623.4 crore. EBIDTA for Q3-2016 grew 45 per cent to Rs 247.4 crore (33.3 per cent margin) as compared to Rs 170.7 crore (27.4 per cent margin).

    The segment’s subscriber base grew 13.2 per cent YoY to 111.06 lakh in the current quarter as compared to 98.10 lakh and grew five per cent as compared to 105.76 lakh in the immediate preceding quarter. Though in US dollar terms, average revenue per user (ARPU) was constant YoY and QoQ at $3.5, it has increased seven per cent YoY in Indian rupees to Rs 229 from Rs 214 and increased two per cent QoQ from Rs 224.

    Dish TV

    Dish TV added 3.17 lakh net subscribers (the least among the three) in the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2016, current quarter), taking its subscriber base on that date to 140 lakh. Dish TV is the largest DTH player in the country in terms of subscribers as well as revenue. The company reported 11.8 per cent YOY revenue growth in the current quarter at Rs 771.48 crore as compared to Rs 690.08 crore and 2.5 per cent more QoQ as compared to Rs 752.42 crore.

    The company reported 39.1 per cent EBIDTA growth in the current quarter at Rs 265.4 crore as compared to Rs 190.8 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter and 4.1 per cent more than the Rs 255 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. Dish TV reported PAT in Q3-2016 at Rs 68.49 as compared to a loss of Rs 2.63 crore in the corresponding prior year quarter, but a decline of 21.3 per cent as compared to Rs 86.96 crore in the previous quarter.

    ARPU in the current quarter declined by Rs 5 YoY to Rs 172, but increased by Rs 1 QoQ.

    Videocon d2h

    Videocon d2h added 6.7 lakh gross subscribers and 4.3 lakh net subscribers during the quarter. Gross subscribers totalled 149.5 lakh and net subscribers totalled 112.7 lakh as of 31 December, 2015.

    The company’s revenue from operations (TIO) increased 21.6 per cent YoY to Rs 731.49 crore in Q3-2016 as compared to Rs 601.53 crore, and increased six per cent QoQ from Rs 690.08 crore.

    Videocon d2h reported 42.2 per cent YoY growth in adjusted EBITDA at Rs 201 crore for Q3- 2016 compared to Rs 141 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. Net loss for the quarter declined to Rs 22.05 crore as compared to the net loss of Rs 79.8 crore in Q3-2015.

    ARPU in Q3-2016 increased 8.2 per cent to Rs 211 as compared to Rs 195 in Q3-2015 and increased 2.9 per cent as compared to Rs 205 in Q2-2016.

    Closing remarks

    Dish TV, which is more of a value player when compared to the other two players in this report, which could be labelled a premium players in terms of subscription packages, could show even better results in terms of better subscriber acquisition and hence higher revenues over the next few quarters, considering the fact that it is tweaking its subscription packages to be more economical.

    Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot said, “In the first few days of January 2016, we saw strong pick up in subscriber additions in cities that come under Phase III digitisation. Recently, a few state high courts issued a stay order on implementation of Phase III digitisation for one to three months. This was in line with our expectations of the digitisation being a staggered process.”

    “We estimate around 50 million television homes come under Phase III digitisation, of which 24-25 million television homes are already on the digital platform. Thus, the target market under Phase III digitisation is the remaining 25-26 million television homes that are currently on analogue cable,” added Dhoot.

    Investors in Indian DTH companies could heave a sigh of relief – Chrome figures recently released for the month of January 2016 reveal that the DTH industry is a major beneficiary of DAS phase III. If that is the case, then DTH players should report even better numbers for Q4-2016 and FY-2016. Another heartening revelation was made by Sun TV Network Limited (Sun TV) in its earnings release for Q3-2016. Sun TV says that its DTH business under the brand Sun Direct, revenue was up approximately 14 per cent. Subsidy costs for DTH set top boxes is going down, and that should help with improved bottom lines.

    Going on to 31 December, 2016, the sunset date for DAS IV, the DTH platform should be able to garner a big chunk of subscribers from DAS IV areas. The future seems good, let’s see how it plays out from the DTH industry’s perspective.

  • Status Report: Q3-2016: DAS Phase III deadline no great shakes for DTH industry

    Status Report: Q3-2016: DAS Phase III deadline no great shakes for DTH industry

    BENGALURU: Contrary to expectations that the sunset date of 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2016 in financial terms in India) would rake in good numbers for the DTH industry for the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2015, current quarter), results declared by three of the seven players in the country show not much of a change.

    Refer to Fig A below, which shows a quarter-on-quarter change in subscriber numbers. Though Airtel DTH and Videocon d2h have both shown a small spike in subscriber additions between Q2-2016 and Q3-2016, overall taking the combined addition in subscription numbers by all the three, the change was just 3.59 per cent. In the case of the third player – Dish TV, it witnessed the lowest growth over a five quarter period starting Q3-2015 until the current quarter at 2.19 per cent

    Note: (1)100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore.

    (2) This report covers only the three of the seven DTH service providers in India (as had the previous two reports) since the other four – Reliance Digital TV, Sun Direct (about 97 lakh subscribers as on 31 March, 2015), Tata Sky and DD Free Dish are not listed directly on the bourses and their financial numbers are not available, unless the principals of these companies/segments chose to reveal them. The three players – Airtel DTH, Dish TV and Videocon d2h have already been covered in our earlier reports.

    (3) Some of the players mention their financial as well as subscription numbers in millions in their financial reports/investor presentations and other documents that they make available publicly. The financial numbers have been converted to Rs crore and subscription number to lakh to an approximation, and percentages have been mentioned to the second decimal place approximation.

    (4) There could be some ambiguity about the market share of the three players. If one were to go by the latest numbers released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in February 2016 for September 2015. TRAI’s indicator report says that the number of registered DTH subscribers as on 30 September, 2015 was 814.7 lakh. The combined subscription numbers of the three players as on the same day as reported by them individually was 351.16 lakh and hence the market share of these players works out to 43.10 per cent. However, TRAI’s report also says that the number of active DTH subscribers as on 30 September, 2015 was 410.5 lakh. Based on the second TRAI number, the combined total subscriber market share of the three players in this paper works out to 85.54 per cent. Though, the combined share of subscribers of the three players has declined between Q1-2016 and Q2-2016, based on TRAI numbers, the author contends that it is safe to assume that the three players have more than 50 per cent market share in India in terms of subscribers.

    (5) Videocon d2h EBIDTA numbers are adjusted.

    Although in absolute numbers, Q3-2016 saw probably the highest subscriber additions by the three players per quarter over the past few quarters, in percentage terms it was slightly lower at 3.59 per cent in the current quarter as compared to 3.62 per cent in Q1-2016. Overall, the three players in this report have mentioned a combined net addition of 12.6 lakh subscribers in Q3-2016. In Q1-2016, the three had reported a combined net addition of 11.99 lakh subscribers.

    Dish TV managing director Jawahar Goel said, “We continued to build our pan-India reach during the quarter. However, as expected, despite analogue sunset there was no real spike in consumer demand from Phase III markets thus making it an ordinary quarter from that perspective. Later, changing gears to align with the current industry trend, we tweaked our subscription packages to a more versatile and seemingly economical offering. Mandatory digitisation however is expected to pick up speed and our key focus going forward would be to gain market share both in terms of subscribers and profitability.”

    Of the three, Airtel DTH added the highest number of subscribers in Q3-2016, about six lakh subscribers. Further, among the three players, Dish TV has the largest subscriber base – about 140 lakh, followed by Videocon d2h with 112.7 lakh and Airtel DTH with 111.06 lakh subscribers. In terms of revenue, it is Dish TV that leads with the highest revenue, followed by Airtel DTH, with Videocon d2h among the 3 players in this report.

    Please refer to the figure below. Panel A indicates the combined numbers of the three players, Panels B, C and D indicate the playout of revenue, EBIDTA and subscription base for Airtel DTH, Dish TV and Videocon d2h respectively, panel E indicates ARPU and panel F monthly subscriber churn.

    Please refer to Panel A in the graphs above. The combined revenues of the three players in the current quarter grew 17.24 per cent year on year (YoY) to Rs 2,245.17 crore from Rs Rs 1,915.01 crore and grew 4.46 per cent quarter on quarter (QoQ) as compared to Rs 2149.32 crore. EBIDTA increased 41.35 per cent YoY in Q3-2016 to Rs 710.51 crore (31.65 per cent margin) from Rs 503.65 crore (26.25 per cent margin) and grew 4.44 per cent QoQ from Rs 680.30 crore (31.65 per cent margin). Reported Combined Subscription numbers in Q2-2016 grew 13.22 per cent YoY to 363.76 lakh from 321.3 lakh and grew 3.59 per cent QoQ from 351.16 lakh.

    Please refer to panel F above. All the three players have reported a monthly subscriber churn of around 0.7 per cent in the current quarter, as compared to a high of 1.3 per cent in Q2-2016.

    Airtel DTH

    Airtel’s DTH segment contributes about four per cent to the telecom giant’s overall revenue. Revenue for the DTH segment in Q3-2016 increased 19 per cent to Rs 742.2 crore, up 19 per cent YoY as compared to Rs 623.4 crore. EBIDTA for Q3-2016 grew 45 per cent to Rs 247.4 crore (33.3 per cent margin) as compared to Rs 170.7 crore (27.4 per cent margin).

    The segment’s subscriber base grew 13.2 per cent YoY to 111.06 lakh in the current quarter as compared to 98.10 lakh and grew five per cent as compared to 105.76 lakh in the immediate preceding quarter. Though in US dollar terms, average revenue per user (ARPU) was constant YoY and QoQ at $3.5, it has increased seven per cent YoY in Indian rupees to Rs 229 from Rs 214 and increased two per cent QoQ from Rs 224.

    Dish TV

    Dish TV added 3.17 lakh net subscribers (the least among the three) in the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2016, current quarter), taking its subscriber base on that date to 140 lakh. Dish TV is the largest DTH player in the country in terms of subscribers as well as revenue. The company reported 11.8 per cent YOY revenue growth in the current quarter at Rs 771.48 crore as compared to Rs 690.08 crore and 2.5 per cent more QoQ as compared to Rs 752.42 crore.

    The company reported 39.1 per cent EBIDTA growth in the current quarter at Rs 265.4 crore as compared to Rs 190.8 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter and 4.1 per cent more than the Rs 255 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. Dish TV reported PAT in Q3-2016 at Rs 68.49 as compared to a loss of Rs 2.63 crore in the corresponding prior year quarter, but a decline of 21.3 per cent as compared to Rs 86.96 crore in the previous quarter.

    ARPU in the current quarter declined by Rs 5 YoY to Rs 172, but increased by Rs 1 QoQ.

    Videocon d2h

    Videocon d2h added 6.7 lakh gross subscribers and 4.3 lakh net subscribers during the quarter. Gross subscribers totalled 149.5 lakh and net subscribers totalled 112.7 lakh as of 31 December, 2015.

    The company’s revenue from operations (TIO) increased 21.6 per cent YoY to Rs 731.49 crore in Q3-2016 as compared to Rs 601.53 crore, and increased six per cent QoQ from Rs 690.08 crore.

    Videocon d2h reported 42.2 per cent YoY growth in adjusted EBITDA at Rs 201 crore for Q3- 2016 compared to Rs 141 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. Net loss for the quarter declined to Rs 22.05 crore as compared to the net loss of Rs 79.8 crore in Q3-2015.

    ARPU in Q3-2016 increased 8.2 per cent to Rs 211 as compared to Rs 195 in Q3-2015 and increased 2.9 per cent as compared to Rs 205 in Q2-2016.

    Closing remarks

    Dish TV, which is more of a value player when compared to the other two players in this report, which could be labelled a premium players in terms of subscription packages, could show even better results in terms of better subscriber acquisition and hence higher revenues over the next few quarters, considering the fact that it is tweaking its subscription packages to be more economical.

    Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot said, “In the first few days of January 2016, we saw strong pick up in subscriber additions in cities that come under Phase III digitisation. Recently, a few state high courts issued a stay order on implementation of Phase III digitisation for one to three months. This was in line with our expectations of the digitisation being a staggered process.”

    “We estimate around 50 million television homes come under Phase III digitisation, of which 24-25 million television homes are already on the digital platform. Thus, the target market under Phase III digitisation is the remaining 25-26 million television homes that are currently on analogue cable,” added Dhoot.

    Investors in Indian DTH companies could heave a sigh of relief – Chrome figures recently released for the month of January 2016 reveal that the DTH industry is a major beneficiary of DAS phase III. If that is the case, then DTH players should report even better numbers for Q4-2016 and FY-2016. Another heartening revelation was made by Sun TV Network Limited (Sun TV) in its earnings release for Q3-2016. Sun TV says that its DTH business under the brand Sun Direct, revenue was up approximately 14 per cent. Subsidy costs for DTH set top boxes is going down, and that should help with improved bottom lines.

    Going on to 31 December, 2016, the sunset date for DAS IV, the DTH platform should be able to garner a big chunk of subscribers from DAS IV areas. The future seems good, let’s see how it plays out from the DTH industry’s perspective.

  • Hathway leads in digital pay & local channels; Ortel leads in analogue: TRAI

    Hathway leads in digital pay & local channels; Ortel leads in analogue: TRAI

    NEW DELHI: The number of private satellite television channels in the country registered with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry fell by seven in the quarter ending September 2015 from 826 in quarter ending June to 819.

    However, the maximum number of pay channels carried by certain cable operators in non-conditional addressable system (CAS) rose from 214 to 233 in the same period. The maximum number of Free-to-Air (FTA) TV channels carried by certain cable operators in non-CAS areas in the period rose from 179 to 197. 

    The data is based on reports received by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) from broadcasters and multi system operators (MSOs).

    In areas served by non-addressable systems, the maximum number of TV channels carried in digital form as reported by cable operator – Hathway Cable & Datacom Limited – amongst those who have reported is 458. 

    The maximum number of TV channels carried in analogue form as reported by – Ortel Communications Limited – amongst those who have reported is 100. 

    In these areas, the maximum number of FTA channels carried, as reported by Hathway Cable & Datacom amongst those who have reported is 197. 

    The maximum number of pay channels carried as reported by a cable operator (Hathway Cable & Datacom) amongst those who have reported is 233. The maximum number of local channels carried as reported by a cable operator (Hathway Cable & Datacom) amongst those who have reported is 28.

    As on 30 September, 2015, there were a total of 226 MSOs who had been granted Permanent Registration (for 10 years) by the Ministry apart from 173 MSOs who had been granted Provisional Registration (for 10 years) by the Ministry of I&B for providing Cable TV services through Digital Addressable Systems (DAS).

    There had been a total of 252 pay channels as reported by broadcasters as on 30 June. During the quarter ending September 2015, three new pay channels – Colors Infinity HD, Colors Infinity, and Zee Café HD – were launched. During the quarter, one channel – The MGM was temporarily suspended. 

    During the quarter, the transmission mode of two channels – VH1 and Comedy Central – was changed from SD to HD. The total had risen to 254 pay TV channels by September end. 

    TRAI in its quarterly report said that apart from the free DTH service of Doordarshan Freedish, there are six private DTH operators. The total number of registered subscribers and active subscribers being served by these six private DTH operators were 81.47 million and 41.05 million respectively as on 30 September, 2015. 

    The Ministry had permitted a total of 90 Teleports by September end.

  • Hathway leads in digital pay & local channels; Ortel leads in analogue: TRAI

    Hathway leads in digital pay & local channels; Ortel leads in analogue: TRAI

    NEW DELHI: The number of private satellite television channels in the country registered with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry fell by seven in the quarter ending September 2015 from 826 in quarter ending June to 819.

    However, the maximum number of pay channels carried by certain cable operators in non-conditional addressable system (CAS) rose from 214 to 233 in the same period. The maximum number of Free-to-Air (FTA) TV channels carried by certain cable operators in non-CAS areas in the period rose from 179 to 197. 

    The data is based on reports received by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) from broadcasters and multi system operators (MSOs).

    In areas served by non-addressable systems, the maximum number of TV channels carried in digital form as reported by cable operator – Hathway Cable & Datacom Limited – amongst those who have reported is 458. 

    The maximum number of TV channels carried in analogue form as reported by – Ortel Communications Limited – amongst those who have reported is 100. 

    In these areas, the maximum number of FTA channels carried, as reported by Hathway Cable & Datacom amongst those who have reported is 197. 

    The maximum number of pay channels carried as reported by a cable operator (Hathway Cable & Datacom) amongst those who have reported is 233. The maximum number of local channels carried as reported by a cable operator (Hathway Cable & Datacom) amongst those who have reported is 28.

    As on 30 September, 2015, there were a total of 226 MSOs who had been granted Permanent Registration (for 10 years) by the Ministry apart from 173 MSOs who had been granted Provisional Registration (for 10 years) by the Ministry of I&B for providing Cable TV services through Digital Addressable Systems (DAS).

    There had been a total of 252 pay channels as reported by broadcasters as on 30 June. During the quarter ending September 2015, three new pay channels – Colors Infinity HD, Colors Infinity, and Zee Café HD – were launched. During the quarter, one channel – The MGM was temporarily suspended. 

    During the quarter, the transmission mode of two channels – VH1 and Comedy Central – was changed from SD to HD. The total had risen to 254 pay TV channels by September end. 

    TRAI in its quarterly report said that apart from the free DTH service of Doordarshan Freedish, there are six private DTH operators. The total number of registered subscribers and active subscribers being served by these six private DTH operators were 81.47 million and 41.05 million respectively as on 30 September, 2015. 

    The Ministry had permitted a total of 90 Teleports by September end.

  • Turner to launch HBO HD in April; unveils new look for HBO

    Turner to launch HBO HD in April; unveils new look for HBO

    MUMBAI: Turner International will be re-launching its channel HBO Hits as HBO HD in April this year.

    As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, late last year Turner decided to re-brand HBO Hits as HBO HD, which was subject to regulatory approvals. Additionally, Turner also discontinued its other channel HBO Defined. Both HBO Hits and HBO Defined were launched as a partnership between HBO Asia and Eros International in 2013.

    HBO HD will be available on direct-to-home (DTH) and cable platforms from April. The broadcaster is also looking to launch the HBO mobile app in March.

    What’s more, the company has also unveiled a fresh new-look for HBO on 14 February, which reflects a youthful and aspirational viewer demographic. HBO’s new packaging has been redesigned to present world-class content to a local, but worldly, audience.

    Turner International, South Asia senior vice president and managing director Siddharth Jain said, “Consumers are at the centre of everything we do and these changes directly reflect this. The all-new HBO captures its audience’s imagination – like never before – through the implementation of a new programming and content strategy; and new fan-engagement initiatives. Indian consumers are spoilt for choice when it comes to entertainment options, and HBO is ideally positioned not only to excite but also engage.”

    The big-budget Mad Max: Fury Road on 14 February led the launch of a new program and content strategy, complemented by a social media campaign. This will be followed by four back-to-back Sunday premieres namely American Sniper, Wild Card, San Andreas and A Walk Among the Tombstones.

    The HBO mobile app will gives viewers access to channel details and information – boasting full channel schedules, a reminder feature, TV promos, preview of upcoming premieres and a Hollywood quiz.

  • Turner to launch HBO HD in April; unveils new look for HBO

    Turner to launch HBO HD in April; unveils new look for HBO

    MUMBAI: Turner International will be re-launching its channel HBO Hits as HBO HD in April this year.

    As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, late last year Turner decided to re-brand HBO Hits as HBO HD, which was subject to regulatory approvals. Additionally, Turner also discontinued its other channel HBO Defined. Both HBO Hits and HBO Defined were launched as a partnership between HBO Asia and Eros International in 2013.

    HBO HD will be available on direct-to-home (DTH) and cable platforms from April. The broadcaster is also looking to launch the HBO mobile app in March.

    What’s more, the company has also unveiled a fresh new-look for HBO on 14 February, which reflects a youthful and aspirational viewer demographic. HBO’s new packaging has been redesigned to present world-class content to a local, but worldly, audience.

    Turner International, South Asia senior vice president and managing director Siddharth Jain said, “Consumers are at the centre of everything we do and these changes directly reflect this. The all-new HBO captures its audience’s imagination – like never before – through the implementation of a new programming and content strategy; and new fan-engagement initiatives. Indian consumers are spoilt for choice when it comes to entertainment options, and HBO is ideally positioned not only to excite but also engage.”

    The big-budget Mad Max: Fury Road on 14 February led the launch of a new program and content strategy, complemented by a social media campaign. This will be followed by four back-to-back Sunday premieres namely American Sniper, Wild Card, San Andreas and A Walk Among the Tombstones.

    The HBO mobile app will gives viewers access to channel details and information – boasting full channel schedules, a reminder feature, TV promos, preview of upcoming premieres and a Hollywood quiz.

  • DD Free Dish woos regional channels with special reserve price of Rs 2 crore in 26th e-auction

    DD Free Dish woos regional channels with special reserve price of Rs 2 crore in 26th e-auction

    MUMBAI: With Doordarshan’s free to air (FTA) direct to home (DTH) service DD Free Dish expected to acquire the capacity to carry more channels, the pubcaster has made a conscious effort to attract regional television channels.

    For the very first time, DD has reserved regional language DTH slot to attract regional channels to its bouquet and has fixed a lower reserve of Rs 2 crore even as the price for the other channels remains Rs 4.3 crore in its 26th e-auction, which is scheduled to take place on 15 February.

    The Online e-auction will be held for filling up of slot reserved for regional language channels and the general slots for DD Free Dish. This has been done considering the tremendous reach of DD Free Dish in semi-urban and rural areas all over the country.

    The reserved slot for regional language channel includes only non-Hindi channels (news or non-news). Bhojpuri channels and Hindi regional channels have been kept as part of the general slots.

    The participation amount (EMD) of reserved slot for regional language channel is Rs 50 lakh. Incremental amount will be Rs 5 lakh for reserved slot and every e-auction will be of 15 minutes duration as in previous auctions.

    The participation amount (EMD) of general DTH slot is Rs 1.5 crore and incremental amount of general DTH slot will be Rs 10 lakh.

    The non-refundable processing fee will be Rs 10,000 for reserved regional language DTH slot and general DTH slot.

    Currently, DD Free Dish has 64 channels including its own channels, and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha TV. But with acquisition of its new technology by the end of next month, it hopes to have a capacity of carrying 112 TV channels.

    The successful regional language channels are required to deposit Rs 50 lakh (first instalment) of reserve price within one month from the placement of the TV channel on DD Free Dish along with service tax at 14.5 per cent on the total bid amount. The second instalment amounting to Rs 50 lakh has to be deposited by the successful channel in the second month from the placement of the channel. 

    The successful general DTH channel is required to deposit Rs 1.10 crore within one month from the placement of the channel on DD Free Dish along with service tax at 14.5 per cent on the total bid amount. The second instalment of Rs. 1.10 crore has to be deposited by the successful channel in the second month from the placement of the channel.

    The balance bid amount for both the regional language and general DTH channels should be deposited on or before six months from the placement of the channel on Free Dish platform failing which the deposited amount will be forfeited and channel will be discontinued from the platform after serving 21 days discontinuation notice.

  • DD Free Dish woos regional channels with special reserve price of Rs 2 crore in 26th e-auction

    DD Free Dish woos regional channels with special reserve price of Rs 2 crore in 26th e-auction

    MUMBAI: With Doordarshan’s free to air (FTA) direct to home (DTH) service DD Free Dish expected to acquire the capacity to carry more channels, the pubcaster has made a conscious effort to attract regional television channels.

    For the very first time, DD has reserved regional language DTH slot to attract regional channels to its bouquet and has fixed a lower reserve of Rs 2 crore even as the price for the other channels remains Rs 4.3 crore in its 26th e-auction, which is scheduled to take place on 15 February.

    The Online e-auction will be held for filling up of slot reserved for regional language channels and the general slots for DD Free Dish. This has been done considering the tremendous reach of DD Free Dish in semi-urban and rural areas all over the country.

    The reserved slot for regional language channel includes only non-Hindi channels (news or non-news). Bhojpuri channels and Hindi regional channels have been kept as part of the general slots.

    The participation amount (EMD) of reserved slot for regional language channel is Rs 50 lakh. Incremental amount will be Rs 5 lakh for reserved slot and every e-auction will be of 15 minutes duration as in previous auctions.

    The participation amount (EMD) of general DTH slot is Rs 1.5 crore and incremental amount of general DTH slot will be Rs 10 lakh.

    The non-refundable processing fee will be Rs 10,000 for reserved regional language DTH slot and general DTH slot.

    Currently, DD Free Dish has 64 channels including its own channels, and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha TV. But with acquisition of its new technology by the end of next month, it hopes to have a capacity of carrying 112 TV channels.

    The successful regional language channels are required to deposit Rs 50 lakh (first instalment) of reserve price within one month from the placement of the TV channel on DD Free Dish along with service tax at 14.5 per cent on the total bid amount. The second instalment amounting to Rs 50 lakh has to be deposited by the successful channel in the second month from the placement of the channel. 

    The successful general DTH channel is required to deposit Rs 1.10 crore within one month from the placement of the channel on DD Free Dish along with service tax at 14.5 per cent on the total bid amount. The second instalment of Rs. 1.10 crore has to be deposited by the successful channel in the second month from the placement of the channel.

    The balance bid amount for both the regional language and general DTH channels should be deposited on or before six months from the placement of the channel on Free Dish platform failing which the deposited amount will be forfeited and channel will be discontinued from the platform after serving 21 days discontinuation notice.

  • High 4K TV partners Splendid Media for India launch

    High 4K TV partners Splendid Media for India launch

    MUMBAI: The New York headquartered multi-genre linear Ultra High Definition (UHD) entertainment channel – High 4K TV, which features a mix of travel, entertainment, lifestyle, sports and original content in 4K, is slated to launch in India via Splendid Media.

    The channel will be available on digital TV platforms and Splendid Media is in talks with various DTH  and cable companies for the channel’s distribution.

    High TV head of business development Justin Borrelo said, “It is indeed a major milestone for us, as an international 4K channel, to be present in India through a leading media company such as Splendid Media, with the highest reach. We are excited to be bringing the very best in lifestyle and entertainment programming to an audience that embraces entertainment as the very essence of their culture.”

    Splendid Media founder and CEO Amit Srivastava added, “We are delighted to be the exclusive agents of High 4K TV in the Indian sub-continent. We will be tying up with various leading DTH and digital cable providers for bringing this unique experience to Indian consumers. We are confident that our viewers will be truly entertained by the breadth and depth of lifestyle and entertainment coverage, as well as benefit from the tips that High 4K TV programs offer.”