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India DTH players look to high-def to differentiate
If you've been content just focusing on sectors in your own nation, you may have missed all the DTH congestion in India. At last count, there are five different satcasters serving the country, and now some are making accelerated pushes to get high-def programming on the air in order to stand out. A recent report from New Delhi asserts that Dish TV and Sun Direct are both hoping to add high-definition content in separate tiers within "the next few months." Specifics are relatively scant, but Indians can probably expect between 10 to 15 HD stations for a modest (read: totally worthwhile) premium. Other sources have noted that Tata Sky, Big TV and Airtel should follow suit, though specific time lines weren't mentioned. Better get that HDTV soon, Indians -- you've got high-res content just around the bend.
Tata Sky gets with the program, launches PVR service in India
Tata Sky may be ready for HD broadcasting, but it can't really expect to topple Dish TV and friends without its own PVR service. At long last, the Indian satcaster is finally enabling its 2.7 million subscribers to enjoy the unbelievable bliss that comes with timeshifting. As for pricing, you'll be asked to hand over Rs 8,999 ($189) for the HDD-packed set-top-box, though current users who choose to upgrade can get ahold of one for "a discounted rate." In related news, managing director and CEO Vikram Kaushik has also expressed his desire to net "at least" 8 million subs by 2012 -- get some serious high-def material rolling and we'd say you can snag 10+ million with ease.
India's Dish TV rolling out HD by year-end
India has another option for high definition on the way, satellite provider Dish TV (not Dish Network) is planning to launch MPEG-4 HD broadcasts by the end of this year. Managing director Jawahar Goel says the company is still in talks with 2-3 TV channels for content, but with more broadcasters coming online we figure things will start to pick up. The Hindu notes competing provider Tata Sky says its equipment is ready for HD broadcasts but are waiting for content before launching, while Barti Telemedia is similarly on HD-compatible equipment already but still holding off launching services. Hey, anything prior to 2010 is a start.
