The Question of Hindi channels.....

[bhavan]

We have seen many comments regarding Hindi channels on Dialog TV and even we have sometimes called on Dialog TV to remove some of them. Even though many may agree that the number of Hindi channels may be just a bit too much, the truth is that some have bought connections just for Hindi channels. They have bought the Rs 100/= package and activated the SET Plans that contain Hindi channels. It is a well known fact that Hindi programming is very popular in Sri Lanka and those who rely on local channels for Hindi content move to Dialog TV because the quality of the Hindi programming is better than the local channels.

So this is not an excuse for Dialog TV to increase Hindi programming (the Hindi content available now is enough) but it is something for us to think about when we ask for the replacement of Hindi channels with English ones. A majority of Dialog TV subscribers view English language programming but there is a significant latter.

So to be fair by all Dialog TV should stop this habit of replacing channels with other channels such as the case was with Zee Music, Animax being replaced by CiTi HiTz and Channel C but instead increase the capacity of their platform by either securing more transponders or moving to MPEG4.

Information being received by us suggests that Dialog TV is testing MPEG4 internally but there is no rollout plan as yet.