ITV

Tag: Harit Nagpal

  • Tata Sky and Visa to collaborate for DTH recharge options

    Tata Sky and Visa to collaborate for DTH recharge options

    Mumbai: Tata Sky and Visa have collaborated to offer Tata Sky subscribers a unique QR code based mobile payment solution, powered by mVisa. Tata Sky subscribers can now recharge their account by scanning the QR code through their mobile phones directly from the TV screen or online on mytatasky.com.

    Visa Group country manager, India and South Asia T.R. Ramachandran said, “Visa is focused on digital innovation to accelerate the development of next generation platforms and solutions that will shape digital commerce. mVisa enables secure, digital commerce through the mobile phone, which today has become the single point of access to technology for consumers. The mVisa solution for Tata Sky subscribers will cater to a large user base across India; we will continue to build more such use cases across online and offline channels to accelerate the adoption digital payments.”

    Tata Sky MD and CEO Harit Nagpal said ”One of our most important pillars of business at Tata Sky is that Innovation has to be Simple and Easy to Use for all. Convenience to use any new technology is the key to ensuring its mass utility and success. We believe mVisa will help subscribers across India with this payment solution from the comfort of their homes.”

    As an introductory offer, subscribers will get 50% additional credit up to a maximum of Rs. 200 on recharge using mVisa. This offer can be availed three times in a calendar month.

    India is currently the 2nd largest smartphone market in the world, with over a billion smartphones expected to be sold in the next five years. The increasing popularity and adoption of mobile devices presents a huge opportunity for the growth of mobile-based digital commerce. The mVisa payment solution on Tata Sky will empower over 17 million subscribers spread across Indian cities, towns and villages, to make payments without having to use cash, debit or credit cards and from the comfort of their homes.

    In order to make payments, customers simply need to open their bank’s mobile application, select the mVisa option, which will activate their smartphone’s camera. The unique QR code on the TV screen (appears on clicking the home or yellow button on the Tata Sky remote control) will prompt for the payment amount, followed by entering the mPIN, to complete the transaction. It is a card-less solution which facilitates payments by scanning the merchant/service provider’s QR code. Subscribers can also log on to mytatasky.com and recharge their account online using the mVisa payment option.

    India is the first market globally where mVisa has been introduced to support the migration from cash to electronic commerce. mVisa is available on the following apps – Axis Bank Mobile Banking App, Bank of Baroda M CLIP App, Bank of India mVisaApp, Pockets by ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank PayZapp andState Bank Anywhere App. Any bank’s mVisa customer can transact on any mVisa merchant.

  • Tata Sky and Visa to collaborate for DTH recharge options

    Tata Sky and Visa to collaborate for DTH recharge options

    Mumbai: Tata Sky and Visa have collaborated to offer Tata Sky subscribers a unique QR code based mobile payment solution, powered by mVisa. Tata Sky subscribers can now recharge their account by scanning the QR code through their mobile phones directly from the TV screen or online on mytatasky.com.

    Visa Group country manager, India and South Asia T.R. Ramachandran said, “Visa is focused on digital innovation to accelerate the development of next generation platforms and solutions that will shape digital commerce. mVisa enables secure, digital commerce through the mobile phone, which today has become the single point of access to technology for consumers. The mVisa solution for Tata Sky subscribers will cater to a large user base across India; we will continue to build more such use cases across online and offline channels to accelerate the adoption digital payments.”

    Tata Sky MD and CEO Harit Nagpal said ”One of our most important pillars of business at Tata Sky is that Innovation has to be Simple and Easy to Use for all. Convenience to use any new technology is the key to ensuring its mass utility and success. We believe mVisa will help subscribers across India with this payment solution from the comfort of their homes.”

    As an introductory offer, subscribers will get 50% additional credit up to a maximum of Rs. 200 on recharge using mVisa. This offer can be availed three times in a calendar month.

    India is currently the 2nd largest smartphone market in the world, with over a billion smartphones expected to be sold in the next five years. The increasing popularity and adoption of mobile devices presents a huge opportunity for the growth of mobile-based digital commerce. The mVisa payment solution on Tata Sky will empower over 17 million subscribers spread across Indian cities, towns and villages, to make payments without having to use cash, debit or credit cards and from the comfort of their homes.

    In order to make payments, customers simply need to open their bank’s mobile application, select the mVisa option, which will activate their smartphone’s camera. The unique QR code on the TV screen (appears on clicking the home or yellow button on the Tata Sky remote control) will prompt for the payment amount, followed by entering the mPIN, to complete the transaction. It is a card-less solution which facilitates payments by scanning the merchant/service provider’s QR code. Subscribers can also log on to mytatasky.com and recharge their account online using the mVisa payment option.

    India is the first market globally where mVisa has been introduced to support the migration from cash to electronic commerce. mVisa is available on the following apps – Axis Bank Mobile Banking App, Bank of Baroda M CLIP App, Bank of India mVisaApp, Pockets by ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank PayZapp andState Bank Anywhere App. Any bank’s mVisa customer can transact on any mVisa merchant.

  • Tata Sky equips STBs with internet browsing apps

    Tata Sky equips STBs with internet browsing apps

    MUMBAI: Direct to home (DTH) companies are stepping up on their game in a bid to offer more specialised technological services to subscribers so as to stay relevant in the fast changing times.

    Soon after Videocon d2h revealed its plans to launch HD smart set-top-boxes (STB), which converts existing LED TVs into a Smart TV as well as allows browsing from social media, VOD and OTT apps, competitor DTH company Tata Sky has made known its plans to bring internet browsing applications on their STBs.

    This new addition will enable Tata Sky subscribers to browse and interact on certain applications through the STB on almost all TV sets without the requirement of a smart TV.

    The service will be available at no additional cost to Tata Sky subscribers and will be launched in the coming months.

    Tata Sky CEO Harit Nagpal said, “We don’t look at ourselves as a DTH operator. We are a content distribution platform. The scope of that is defined by what content, which medium, what screen the subscriber wants. That is the level of convergence that Tata Sky is looking at achieving.”

  • Tata Sky equips STBs with internet browsing apps

    Tata Sky equips STBs with internet browsing apps

    MUMBAI: Direct to home (DTH) companies are stepping up on their game in a bid to offer more specialised technological services to subscribers so as to stay relevant in the fast changing times.

    Soon after Videocon d2h revealed its plans to launch HD smart set-top-boxes (STB), which converts existing LED TVs into a Smart TV as well as allows browsing from social media, VOD and OTT apps, competitor DTH company Tata Sky has made known its plans to bring internet browsing applications on their STBs.

    This new addition will enable Tata Sky subscribers to browse and interact on certain applications through the STB on almost all TV sets without the requirement of a smart TV.

    The service will be available at no additional cost to Tata Sky subscribers and will be launched in the coming months.

    Tata Sky CEO Harit Nagpal said, “We don’t look at ourselves as a DTH operator. We are a content distribution platform. The scope of that is defined by what content, which medium, what screen the subscriber wants. That is the level of convergence that Tata Sky is looking at achieving.”

  • Tata Sky looks to up VAS, VOD revenue; partners Suniel Shetty for fitness service

    Tata Sky looks to up VAS, VOD revenue; partners Suniel Shetty for fitness service

    MUMBAI: Eyeing a larger share of revenue from the Value Added Service (VAS) and VOD (Video on Demand) pie, direct-to-home (DTH) operator Tata Sky has partnered with Suniel Shetty and Adarsh Gupta’s lifestyle and health initiative Brilliant Living TV to launch a fitness-based interactive service – ‘Actve Fitness.’

     

    The new service will allow subscribers to get access to fitness trainers and wellness experts 24×7 at the cost of Rs 59 per month.

     

    The DTH operator recently added ‘Actve Fitness’ to their bouquet of VAS. While on-air fitness programs have been tried many times on TV, this is the first time a DTH player in India has introduced an on demand fitness solution for its customers.

     

    The new service was unveiled by Salman Khan, who also explained the advantages of Actve Fitness from a fitness enthusiast’s perspective.

     

    Tata Sky chief commercial officer Pallavi Puri says, “In line with our attempt to keep innovating the VAS section, we are constantly researching. Our research showed that our users are very health conscious. They want to look fit and live a healthy lifestyle. But not everyone has the access to gyms, fitness equipments or proper trainers. Even if they have access to such facilities, availability of convenient time becomes an issue for many who lead a busy life. I would say this service is a smarter and personalised way to take control of one’s health from the comfort of your homes.”

     

    Effective 5 October, Tata Sky subscribers will be given a ‘missed call number’ that will lead them to activate this new service. Interested users can also send SMS requests, or  log in to the DTH player’s website, or subscribe to the service through their television sets. Puri expects the service to appeal to their customer base from all demographies.

     

    Apart from creating a buzz by inviting Khan for the launch, Tata Sky has also put in place a marketing strategy for the new service. “We are targeting communication towards our customers through our landing channel No 100, which will showcase advertisements informing viewers about the new service. We are also looking digital promos, and tele-calling as ways to promote the service among our customers,” explains Puri.

     

    Puri further adds that having Brilliant Living TV as a partner broadened their scope and quality of the content they can offer through the service. “Brilliant Living TV is delighted to be associated with Tata Sky to bring Actve Fitness to Indian homes. Our focus has been on creating passion and excitement for fitness amongst all Indians by guiding them through fitness exercises such as work-out videos, yoga and meditation. Now for the first time these services will be available to viewers at home through a DTH platform,” said Brilliant Living TV founder Adarsh Gupta.

     

    Available in both Hindi and English, the content for the service has been curated by Brilliant Living TV, with Suniel Shetty being an active part of it. “With the inception of Brilliant Living TV, we could gather industry experts under one roof and with the help of Tata Sky Actve Fitness we are able to reach out to the mass. Continuing my effort, I am looking forward to a healthy India in the near future,” says Shetty.

     

    Shetty has roped in celebrity fitness trainers like Yasmin Karachiwala, Kaizzad Capadia, Abbas Ali and Grand Master Shifuji amongst others for Actve Fitness. Each of them have shared workout and yoga sessions, self-defence and celebrity fitness tips that anyone can follow at home, without the need of any professional equipment. The interactive service also lets one set a Weight Tracker and check the Calorie Counter for the kind of food they consume. 

     

    Each day of the week will focus on a different body part for exercising, with Monday dedicated to full body workout. Apart from that, the service also offers half hour modules for the subscribers, who can choose from a category of wellness regimes to customise according to their needs.

     

    Specials include different schools of yoga such as Ashtang yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Hatha yoga; meditation, work outs like a kickboxing, fusion martial arts, and more. They also offer women’s special fitness trainings that cover self-defence, dance workout and event pre-natal yoga.

  • Tata Sky upgrades to Ericsson’s platform to enhance video services

    Tata Sky upgrades to Ericsson’s platform to enhance video services

    MUMBAI: Direct to home (DTH) operator Tata Sky has upgraded upgraded and expanded its entire DTH platform to the Ericsson’s video compression platform AVP 4000 System Encoder.

     

    The upgrade enables Tata Sky to substantially increase the bouquet of channels offered to subscribers while maintaining the highest quality of viewing experience.

     

    Tata Sky CEO Harit Nagpal said, “For Tata Sky, it is of utmost importance to consistently deliver a high quality viewing experience to our subscribers. The Ericsson AVP 4000 System Encoder allows us to enhance picture quality, offer increased volumes of channels and content and launch new services, such as OTT, on the same platform.”

     

    Ericsson head of region India Chris Houghton added, “Ericsson is committed to helping its customers overcome the challenges of satellite spectrum scarcity and meet increasing quality expectations of Indian consumers. The AVP 4000 System Encoder is designed to overcome today’s bandwidth and delivery constraints by providing the necessary flexibility, velocity and agility to deploy new services within an extremely competitive landscape.”

     

    Four out of the seven DTH operators in India are based on Ericsson’s video compression technology. In March this year, Ericsson supported Tata Sky to launch the first commercial 4K video service in the subcontinent. Customers subscribing to the 4K service could watch video up to four times the resolution of the standard high definition (HD) video currently available.

     

    According to Ericsson, the total mobile video traffic over the next six years (2015-2020) will be more than 17 times that of the last six (2009-2014). With availability of more content for an ever – increasing number of video-enabled devices, it is critical to maximize video delivery over available bandwidth and multiple networks. 

  • Anil Khera replaces RC Venkateish as DTH Operators Association president

    Anil Khera replaces RC Venkateish as DTH Operators Association president

    MUMBAI: Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera has replaced Dish TV CEO RC Venkateish as the president of DTH Operators Association.

     

    Khera said, “We will be working together to resolve the issues pertaining to DTH industry. We will take up the issues of DTH operators with the relevant government authorities.  I hope that we will be able to resolve all issues of DTH operators amicably with all the stakeholders. I thank all the members for showing faith in me.”

     

    Khera was chosen unanimously by the members of the association as Venkateish’s replacement to represent the six direct to home (DTH) operators namely Tata Sky, Dish TV, Videocon d2h, Sun Direct, Reliance Digital TV and Airtel Digital TV.

     

    In June 2014, Venkateish  was unanimously elected as the president for a term of one year, where the association had also decided to hold regular meetings every quarter to address issues concerning the DTH industry.

     

    Prior to Venkateish , Tata Sky CEO Harit Nagpal served as president of the DTH Operators Association for three years. After the conclusion of Nagpal’s tenure last year, the association had decided to elect the president for a one year term.

  • “Disorganisation of analogue cable in Phase III & IV will help DTH”: Harit Nagpal

    “Disorganisation of analogue cable in Phase III & IV will help DTH”: Harit Nagpal

    MUMBAI: While India has witnessed Phase I and Phase II of digitisation, the remaining two phases (i.e Phase III and IV) will go a long way in aiding more transparency. Direct to Home (DTH) platforms too are an enthused lot, hoping it will help them gain additional subscribers. 

     

    Speaking about the expected development Tata Sky CEO Harit Nagpal said, “As digitisation rolls out, we are hopeful that a large number of consumers will move to DTH because analogue cable is little less organised in Phase III and IV of digitisation.”

     

    Nagpal said that the first two phases impacted approximately 15 per cent of the TV population. According to him, when it came to the process of conversion from analogue cable to digital, about 40 per cent of the analogue subscribers picked up DTH.  Nagpal was speaking at the Asia Pacific Operators Summit (APOS) held in Balli recently.

     

    Speaking about net additions, he said that the pace had not slowed down. “Even when we were acquiring close to 10 million subscribers as gross, we were getting three to four net additions. Today, the industry picks six to seven million gross, it still makes three to four million net.” Nagpal further added that this would be facilitated by digitisation in places where the first two phases were complete.

     

    Nagpal believes that the top four DTH players will become cash positive very soon. “It’s on the horizon now. We have already been covering our operational costs. The investment that is really going into the business is going to fund the growth,” he said.

     

    According to Nagpal, an investor wouldn’t mind finding the growth because on a 10-12 per cent churn, the life of a customer is seven to eight years. As such if the pay back is three years, then an operator has about six to seven years cash life with the customer.

     

    “Thus an investor is happy to invest and add the gross adds faster and does not mind paying for the investment,” he added.

     

    While on the one hand, Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera expressed his displeasure over premium content being distributed for free by Over The Top (OTT) platforms, Nagpal explained his point of view. “I treat myself, i.e. a content access provider, as a grocer. We buy soaps and cereals in bulk and sell them in small packets. If three generations in a single family want to consume bread, rice and pasta we have it stocked. Secondly, if these three generations ordered the food respectively via in shop, over the phone or placed an order online, I have to cater to that and make it convenient for customers.” 

     

    He further said that he would not go about cursing people as to why content is being given out for free. “I have to make it convenient for the customer to find everything at one place,” he stressed.

     

    On the added service of video on demand (VOD), Nagpal said that four years ago when Tata Sky launched VOD, it had seen an investment of close to $10 million. Currently the operator was just breaking even on operating costs. “But we know it’s a long term play. It’s not necessarily a play of premium content. In fact, on our first VOD we made available Hindi movies and not English. The reason being English movies’ rights holders were sceptical and insisted on minimum guarantees.”

     

    On the issue of broadband bandwidth, Nagpal stated that going by the current world wide web phenomenon it was obvious that  video cannot be carried by over the air as the last mile has to be connected by at least some form of wire. He hoped a new entity would cater to this business very soon. 

     

    “Currently there are a lot of entrepreneurs who provide broadband very well in some areas. They have just been constrained by expansion. We are hoping that in a year’s time the landscape will change. Some funding will come in and then they will expand,” he concluded.