Rcom to launch DTH services from Aug 15

[alpeshpatelk]

Cable and DTH viewers are set to get a wider choice, with Anil Ambani Group firm Reliance Communications expected to start nationwide commercial operations of its DTH service from August 15.

'Big Digital TV DTH', a subsidiary of Rcom, is betting big on the huge potential of home entertainment in the Indian households.

It is estimated that India has over 124 million TV households, with roughly 80 million using the conventional cable delivery platform.

DTH operators in the country, Tata Sky, DishTV and Sun are estimated to have a user base of around 7-8 million.

Big Digital TV DTH would announce its tariff plans in the next few days before the launch of services, sources close to the development said.

When contacted company spokesperson refused to comment.

Sources, however, said Big Digital TV DTH would unleash an aggressive launch plan with an aim to become the largest DTH operator in the country in the first year of operation.

The company is believed to have placed order for 5 million Set Top Boxes with Korean and Taiwanese vendors to meet its requirements in the first year, they said, adding Big Digital TV is targetting to capture a substantial share of the DTH market that is projected to cross 25-million user base in the next three years.

The company has already completed trial runs across 2,400 towns and the service is currently available for customers of other Reliance ADAG group companies for Rs 1,000.

source : http://www.business-standard.com/india/s...tono=44346

[alpeshpatelk]

The Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance Communications is expected to start commercial operations of its DTH service from 15 August in India, the company announced today.

'Big Digital TV DTH', a subsidiary of Rcom, is aiming to capture a substantial share of the DTH market that is projected to cross 25-million user base in the next three years.

DTH services were introduced in India in July 2006, and currently has a customer base of about 13 million, according to industry estimates. Of this, 6 million are customers of DD Direct, a free DTH service of public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, while Tata Sky, DishTV and Sun have a user base of around 6-7 million.

BigTV has also bagged the official direct-to-home (DTH) partnership for the BCCI's Twenty20 cricket tournament Indian Premier League (IPL) with a bid of $31.16 million (about Rs137 crore) for the next four years. As part of the agreement, BigTV will be contribute Rs34.27 crore per year to the IPL as the official DTH partner.

According to industry sources, Big TV outbid the only other contender, Airtel Digital TV, the Bharti group's DTH service. Airtel Digital TV, which is also expected to be launched soon, had put in a bid of $30.28 million for the same number of years.

source : http://www.domain-b.com/companies/compan...vices.html