Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad   

DTH services galvanize cable operators, MSOs

Staff Reporter

Twin cities have three DTH services that are trying to make inroads in the massive cable market. Tata-Sky, Dish TV of Zee and Doordarshan's DTH services are putting a lot of pressure on the cable operators.

HYDERABAD: The advent of a clutch of Direct to Home (DTH) services in the twin cities seems to have galvanised the local cable operators and Multi System Operators.

Despite the challenge on their hegemony in the cable market, the local cable operators and MSOs are putting up a brave front and have decided to work in unison to shore up and further strengthen their customers' base.

The cable operators have decided to go local in a massive way by taking up large-scale coverage of the local events.

Be it an annual function of a local school or covering local sporting event or a festival, the MSOs and cable operators have decided to beam these events live to the customers.

Twin cities have three DTH services that are trying to make inroads in the massive cable market. Tata-Sky, Dish TV of Zee and Doordarshan's DTH services are putting a lot of pressure on the cable operators.

Tata-Sky and Dish TV have decided to share Star and Zee channels between them, which means that Tata-Sky will beam Zee bouquet and Dish TV will air Star package.

Lion's share

"Worldwide, both the DTH and the cable operators have co-existed in the market. At the end of the day, it is the cable operator who has the lion's share of the market. We have decided to penetrate further into the market by increasing the local coverage," according to President for Twin Cities Cable TV Operators Association Prabhakar Reddy.

Consumer activists point out that in the cable wars, ultimately the customers should end up in the winning side with regard to the coverage of the local events and quality of transmission.

The customers should get more options in cable viewing.

"However, even the DTH providers will have to deliver on their promises," said noted consumer activist N. Ganesan.

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