ITV

Tag: HD feed

  • Cable operators seek discounted tariffs from pay channels

    Cable operators seek discounted tariffs from pay channels

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Cable Operators' Foundation (MCOF) has requested Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) to urge its members – the pay channels – to offer discounted pay tariffs, if not waiving them altogether, for a period of four months from 20 April to 20 August.

    The MCOF has primarily cited two reasons for making this request. First, there has been no original content for the past two months. Second is the subscribers’ inability to pay for the channels.

    In a letter addressed to IBF president NP Singh, the MCOF stated that the request is specifically regarding IBF members that operate pay channels with monthly tariff ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 19 for SD feed and variable extra for HD feed.  

    “Our subscribers have been pointing out that all the channels have been recycling programmes for close to two months. Further, no one is in a position to assure as to when fresh programmes will be aired. Same is the case with sports and movie channels, which will be slower in offering fresh content as compared to GECs and other genres,” said the letter.

    MCOF further stated: “The subscribers therefore will either discontinue these channels on their own, or we as the last-mile link will be compelled to do so since MSOs are pressuring us to pay upfront when our subscribers are unable to pay. We therefore believe that it would be in everyone's interests that pay channels offer steeply discounted pay tariffs, if not waive it altogether for a period of four months.”

    The situation, said the MCOF, may be reviewed in mid-July and a suitable call be taken in respect of “GECs as a class distinct from sports and movie channels.” The cable federation expressed hope that this “ethical action” will not only create goodwill with subscribers but also retain customers for the channels to ensure that advertising income does not go down much.

    “We hope that you will appreciate the fact we too will be sacrificing our marketing fee and yet are willing to do so in the interests of the entire value chain. We hope to receive an early revert in mutual interests,” concluded the letter.  

  • Zee launches HD League bouquet targeting affluentials

    Zee launches HD League bouquet targeting affluentials

    MUMBAI: The High Definition (HD) feed is clearly a value added proposition. With five popular HD channels under its umbrella namely – Zee TV HD, &Pics HD, Zee cinema HD, Zee Studio HD and Ten Sports HD – Zee has launched the network’s new brand identity- Zee HD League bouquet.

     

    The bouquet will have Hollywood and Bollywood blockbusters as well as sports action. It will also include HD content that will exclusively premiere on the bouquet and not on the SD feed.

     

    To begin with Zee TV HD will showcase the World television premiere of the critically acclaimed and award-winning movie The Lunchbox on 8 February. The move, according to a source, is to make the trade as well as the consumer segment aware of the HD offerings by the stable.

     

    Speaking on the launch, ZEEL chief business officer Sunil Buch said, “With close to 40 per cent increase in the sales of flat-panel TVs coupled with an aggressive push by DTH and digital cable players, HD channels continue to gain consumer traction. The bouquet is aimed at giving an enriched viewing experience to the affluential viewers.”

     

    Buch further said that the network will follow a two pronged approach for the same. Firstly, by adding width in terms of new HD channels and secondly by looking at HD exclusive offerings from each of the channels. The pricing will differ from platform to platform.

     

    When queried as to how he views the pattern for HD consumption in India, Sun Direct managing director Mahesh Kumar said, “Incrementally HD feed is becoming more and more attractive because an increasing number of subscribers consume HD. Not a game changer as yet, but we foresee in the next one or two years the HD consumption going up.”

     

    On the other hand, Dish TV chief operating officer Salil Kapoor finds the strategy beneficial for the feed as its overall consumption is picking up. “We have the highest number of HD channels – i.e 39 now and are happy with the focus turning to HD,” he added.

     

    A 360 degree marketing campaign across affluential touch-points such as airports and multiplexes along with special emphasis on digital is being rolled out to promote ZEEL’s new bouquet. ZEEL chief sales officer Ashish Sehgal informed that this was an opportunity for advertisers to sharply target the elusive affluent audience segment.

     

    “HD subscribers have a high skew towards the premium 25+, SEC AB in six metros and are growing at a whopping 50 per cent per annum. By adopting a network approach, we will further strengthen our monetisation strategy by offering advertisers a suite of advertising options across multiple genres,” he concludes.