Expects 1 lakh customers before commercial launch in March. Reliance Communications (RCom) is all set to test-launch its direct to home (DTH) services Big TV this week, before a full commercial launch in March this year. Subhash Chandra-controlled Dish TV and Tata Sky will face a tough competition. THE SHOW IS ON
The company has placed orders for 2 million set-top boxes
The target is to get 50 per cent share of the new customers who join the DTH club
Big TV may also air some niche channels that are not available in India
The company is investing $250 million in the first phase for the launch and has already placed orders for over 2 million set-top boxes to cater to the initial launch. The target is to get 50 per cent share of the new customers who join the DTH club. The company through the soft launch, which is targeted for its employees, is expecting to get one lakh customers even before the commercial launch. Big TV is launching with over 200 channels. It plans to ramp up to 250 odd channels prior to the commercial launch. The channels would include some niche channels that are currently not available in India. The company plans to woo its employees with an attractive offer, an upfront payment of Rs 1,000 (compared with Rs 2,500 by others) and Rs 325 per month with Rs 100 of pay TV time bundled in the package free. Reliance Big TV has tied up with most of the broadcasting companies for carrying their feed on RCom�s top-of-the-end MPEG 4 platform, two generations ahead of the MPEG 2 platform being used by existing DTH operators Dish TV and Tata Sky. Big TV is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Communications. When contacted RCom�s spokesperson declined to comment on the development. He merely said: �DTH services are among the future growth drivers for Reliance Communications. The fully-Digital DTH Services would be launched by end of this financial year.� RCom is buying its set-top boxes from multiple manufacturers in Korea, Taiwan and China. The range of set-top boxes to be launched simultaneously include models with Digital Video Recording (DVR) facility. The DVR enabled set-top boxes will include integrated recording and playing facilities, and are expected to make a dent on the DVD player market in the country in the coming years.
Check :RCom to test-launch DTH service Big TV this week
The company has placed orders for 2 million set-top boxes
The target is to get 50 per cent share of the new customers who join the DTH club
Big TV may also air some niche channels that are not available in India
The company is investing $250 million in the first phase for the launch and has already placed orders for over 2 million set-top boxes to cater to the initial launch. The target is to get 50 per cent share of the new customers who join the DTH club. The company through the soft launch, which is targeted for its employees, is expecting to get one lakh customers even before the commercial launch. Big TV is launching with over 200 channels. It plans to ramp up to 250 odd channels prior to the commercial launch. The channels would include some niche channels that are currently not available in India. The company plans to woo its employees with an attractive offer, an upfront payment of Rs 1,000 (compared with Rs 2,500 by others) and Rs 325 per month with Rs 100 of pay TV time bundled in the package free. Reliance Big TV has tied up with most of the broadcasting companies for carrying their feed on RCom�s top-of-the-end MPEG 4 platform, two generations ahead of the MPEG 2 platform being used by existing DTH operators Dish TV and Tata Sky. Big TV is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Communications. When contacted RCom�s spokesperson declined to comment on the development. He merely said: �DTH services are among the future growth drivers for Reliance Communications. The fully-Digital DTH Services would be launched by end of this financial year.� RCom is buying its set-top boxes from multiple manufacturers in Korea, Taiwan and China. The range of set-top boxes to be launched simultaneously include models with Digital Video Recording (DVR) facility. The DVR enabled set-top boxes will include integrated recording and playing facilities, and are expected to make a dent on the DVD player market in the country in the coming years.
Check :RCom to test-launch DTH service Big TV this week
