Dish TV to roll out HD technology platform by year-end

[unni]

Dish TV to roll out HD technology platform by year-end

NEW DELHI: With high definition technology catching the imagination of premium quality video and audio lovers, direct-to-home service provider Dish TV will launch high definition (HD) platform by the end of this year.
The company, which recently announced free set top boxes (STBs) for its subscribers, has plans to introduce the latest Motion Picture Expert Group 4 (MPEG) technology enabled STBs along with the HD platform for broadcasting. It is also holding talks with TV channels for production of HD content.
"We will launch HD platform along with MPEG 4 coming Diwali for the subscribers. We are also talking to a 2-3 TV channels and get into commercial arrangements for High Definition content," Dish TV Managing Director Jawahar Goel said.
High definition content, whether images or videos, have greater resolution than traditional standard resolution. The images and pictures appear more clear and sharp.
The sound quality is also enhanced.
Existing DTH players Tata Sky and Bharti Telemedia, which are soon expected to announce their entry into the domain, are also equipped to provide HD platforms to its audiences.
"We have the HD technology ready with us, but there is no content in India at the moment. We will bring the technology in the market whenever the market is ready for it," Tata Sky Chief Marketing Officer Vikram Mehra said.
Similarly, Bharti Telemedia Executive Director N Arjun said, "The equipment which we are using is HD enabled, at the moment we will launch the service in standard definition but going forward will bring in HD."
MPEG 4 can provide 30 per cent more channels than the present technology. On MPEG 4, 21-22 channels can be beamed, on the other hand only 16-17 channels can be beamed by MPEG 2.
Besides HD, the service providers are also expanding their offerings by introducing digital video recorders which would enable the consumers to record the content as and when desired.
Towards the end of this year, Dish TV would launch its Digital Video Recorder DVRs, while Tata Sky would introduce Personal Video Recorders PVRs in the market.

Source
And also this

DishTV's own satellite to be launched by June
Essel Group owned direct-to-home (DTH) service DishTV is all set to extend its satellite channel capacity to 420 with the launch of its own satellite Argani scheduled by June-end this year. Once operational, the satellite would also enable DishTV to provide broadband internet service to its subscribers.
DishTV, which has offered a free-of-cost set top box (STB) to all new subscribers with new connections, is looking at doubling its customer base of 31 lakh within next 45 days. The same is planned ahead of its Rs 800 crore satellite project being handled by Chinese satellite company ProtoStar.
Speaking to Business Standard , a DishTV official close to developments said, "Protostar has almost finalised the schedule for launch of DishTV's satellite from Kourou from French Guyana. We expect a launch in the last week of June the satellite would be operational by July second week. We will then have additional 14 Ku-band and 12 c-band transponders for satellite TV broadcast."
DishTV presently holds 9 c-band transponders on a European satellite NSS-6 and can show 220 TV channels. Being the oldest company in the market, it enjoys market leadership ahead of Prasarbharati's DD Direct Plus, Tata Sky and Sun TV services.
"We are planning to provide internet connection through DTH platform. Once the new satellite is operational, internet services would be feasible technically. Present DishTV users would have to exchange their STBs and dish to avail internet service if needed," the official added.
With the launch of its satellite and the scheduled entry of new players like Reliance and Airtel in the DTH market, DishTV has decided to offer free STBs to all its new subscribers. New subscribers who opt for the annual maxi package worth Rs 3,990 will also get to watch 67 movies-on-demand (MoD) free of cost.
A number of airlines are also in talks with DishTV to provide TV entertainment during flights. Presently, 20 planes operated by Kingfisher Airlines have DishTV systems installed. Indian Railways is also considering a proposal to install DTH systems in long distance trains, for which, DishTV remains a preferred player, the official added.

[kumarmohit]

Just a platform. What good wud the platform do unless there is actually something being aired in HD in India?

[unni]

I think there is atleast one HD ready channel available in India. See this:

“NEWSX AIMS to redefine TV news in India with the best news team working to deliver the highest quality of content and style, in keeping with the channel’s promise of clarity in this complex world. We are confident that the discerning viewers of Tata Sky will respond well to NewsX,” said Indrani Mukherjee, chairperson, INX News.

Vikram Kaushik, MD and CEO, Tata Sky Ltd, said, “Tata Sky has always been at the forefront in providing world class news, entertainment and other programs to its subscribers. We are delighted to add the premier English news channel NewsX to our platform. This will further enhance Tata Sky’s strong bouquet for its huge community of satisfied TV viewers across the country.”

With a strong emphasis on the best and latest technology, NewsX, India’s first High Definition Television (HDTV) – ready news channel, is the first one in Asia Pacific region, to use high definition cameras on the road, offering better looking footage with sharper image quality. MPEG-4 (instead of the conventional MPEG-2) encoding gets the picture directly to the viewer at the highest speed in the shortest time. The entire facility is designed and constructed to lead the way in the HD news production in India.

NewsX is available in DishTV also.

[naveen_reloaded]

something is better than nothing...

with sun network fastly approaching... i think sun network will be the first to dish out HD content.. now itself their clarity surpasses all the channels aired in India...

atleast some good news for all those invested money in LCD ... hi hi .. me included

[desiibond]

Competition's always good for consumers. Hope they give connection free of cost and charge only for rental.

[ThinkFree]

^^Even if they provide equipment for free, they will charge Rs. 1000 for installation.

[unni]

Originally Posted by desiibond

Competition's always good for consumers. Hope they give connection free of cost and charge only for rental.

For DishTV, if you pay for one year, I think they are giving STB free.

[gxsaurav]

At least there is a platform now, on which channels will broadcast there content.

Thanks god someone is going to HD in north india side. I so wanted to use 720p TV on my new LCD.

[W i d e S c r e e N]

we will see a lot of upscaled videos on these.
if that X News is hd ready why not use a 16:9 aspect ratio. one dosent even have to be HD ready for that to happen.

Look at those punjabi music channels they show most videos in 16:9 aspect ratios,

so much for HD ready.

[praka123]

I already enjoy mpeg4 video on my SUN DTH !(south only).
one HD channel is coming this month,I think best recommended for south indians

[gary4gar]

Ah.. good now atleast the rates will decrease for normal TV

anyone knows will our Present STB will be ready for HD broadcasts or i would need to buy a new STB?

[praka123]

^mpeg4 needs new supported stb

[ThinkFree]

Videocon DTH coming in August.

[desiibond]

^^Shuks.

[unni]

National Geographic to launch four new channels in India
NEW DELHI: NGC Network will extend its brand presence in India by introducing four new National Geographic channels as also a "comprehensive bouquet of credible and compelling" specialist channels.

The new channels, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Adventure, Nat Geo Music and Nat Geo HD (Hi Definition) will now be available in India along with the core Nat Geo Channel that has already been present in the country for 11 years.

"Through the new channels, viewers will be able to access a comprehensive and diverse bouquet of accurate, credible and entertaining programming suitable for the entire family," an NGC Network statement said Wednesday.

"The four new Nat Geo Channels that we plan to launch in India have already proven to be very popular in countries where they are currently available," Sydney Suissa, executive vice president (Content), National Geographic Channels International (NGCI), told reporters here.

"The new channels allow us to expand our commitment to quality programming and to create specialist channels in genres which are at the very heart of the National Geographic brand," he added.

"The programming on these new channels will capture the attention of younger audiences eager to stretch the boundaries of their knowledge about the world they live in," Suissa maintained.

According to Nikhil Mirchandani, managing director (South Asia) for the National Geographic Channel: "The combination of our core channel along with the new ones provide the best possible mix of programming for our viewers and our partners".

Source

[Xccentricity]

Just out of curiosity is TATA Sky better of DISH TV?

[gary4gar]

Originally Posted by praka123

^mpeg4 needs new supported stb

Cr@p i am not buying a new STB
damn you Mr chandra

[Cyrus_the_virus]

Originally Posted by gary4gar

Cr@p i am not buying a new STB
damn you Mr chandra

Read the news, you can get it exchanged for the new one.

[sourav123]

Originally Posted by ~Rahul~

Just out of curiosity is TATA Sky better of DISH TV?

In my view, both are similar. DishTV has more channels but TATA Sky adds new channels faster.

[praka123]

tata sky is way better.
sun dth already got mpeg4 and all this!hd channel will be added very soon as per their nodal officer I enjoy sun!

[W i d e S c r e e N]

@unni, the new NGC looks promising thx 4 the news.

[kumarmohit]

So you need new STB for HDTV. Now we know why they are giving out old boxes for 'free'.
Stock clearance sale.

[gigyaster]

^^
+1

[alsiladka]

NatGeo in HD! Amazing, cant wait for it!!

[Cyrus_the_virus]

Originally Posted by alsiladka

NatGeo in HD! Amazing, cant wait for it!!

Why? you like to see animals humping each other?

Animal porn in HD!!