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Direct-to-home services provider Dish TV sees the high definition television households to touch 5 million by December, with the addition of about 2.5 million during the year.
Salil Kapoor, Chief Operating Officer, Dish TV, said the pace of adoption of HD television panels and its services is accelerating as discerning customers opt for them due to enhanced viewing experience.
During his visit to Hyderabad for a promotional event with Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders and its players, Jaques Kallis, Sunil Narine and Yusuf Pathan, he told Business Line , “All indicators point towards addition of about 2.5 million new HD TVs by December. They, in turn, are expected to subscribe to high definition services.”
A HD services box with a recording facility is being offered for around Rs 3,000 by Dish TV making it attractive for buyers.
Currently, Dish TV offers 25 high definition channels and 17 services, the largest in the country's DTH industry. When the HD services were offered there were only two channels. As more customers take to high definition TVs, more channels will offer these services, he explained.
Outlining some trends, he said some channels are offering advertisement-free HD services which discerning viewers prefer be it for sports, movies and other entertainment channels.
Even the traditional way of watching TV is changing as some viewers do not want to or are unable to watch a programme at the appointed time due to their schedules. Instead, they are opting to record and watch later. The HD services come for Rs 400-425 a month.
Digitisation drive
Referring to the ongoing digitisation drive, he said it is helping to move from the analog to digital platform with a choice of cable digital and DTH.
As more subscribers join digital platforms, the cost of services is likely to go up as there will be more declarations leading to taxes.
Kapoor said the country has 230 million homes, 148 million TV households, which includes 80 million cable and satellite subscribers. The DTH subscriber base has crossed 55 million wherein Dish TV has 14.7 million subscribers.
>rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in
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