The Hindu : New Delhi News : Keeping up the show while on the move

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Thursday, Jan 17, 2008
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Keeping up the show while on the move

Sandeep Joshi

Satellite TV equipment can now be installed on your car’s roof

The system will attract travellers in big cities where the time spent on roads is constantly increasing
Complete equipment may cost between Rs.60,000 and Rs.1.5 lakh

NEW DELHI: Worried about missing an interesting cricket match live or some important news while on the move? One possible solution is Dish TV’s satellite TV equipment that can be installed on a car’s roof.

Dish TV ties up with General Motors

To begin with, Dish TV has tied up with General Motors to provide dish antennae on its sports utility vehicle Tavera even as it plans to install it on other models as well.

“We have installed a circular antenna on the rooftop of the SUV which rotates to catch signals, besides a decoder, a set-top-box and an LCD screen, all at a cost of Rs.60,000 to Rs.1.5 lakh,” says Dish TV Head (Mobile DTH) Samir Juneja.

While a vehicle is on the move, its antenna rotates to catch the feed, ensuring seamless TV broadcast across India. Charges for the service will be same as those for DTH (direct-to-home) users. So now one can enjoy all the channels just like sitting at home, he adds.

Displayed at Auto Expo

Dish TV has displayed this new gadget at the ongoing Auto Expo at Pragati Maidan here and is planning to introduce the technology in airlines, railways and buses as well. Dish TV has already been installed in about a dozen aircraft of Kingfisher Airlines, while talks are on with the Indian Railways to begin the service on its Shatabdi and Rajdhani Express trains.

Sturdy roof required to install

“The Dish TV system can be fitted on any vehicle; the only basic requirement is a strong and sturdy roof. Car manufacturers have agreed to provide a pre-fabricated support for installing the antenna. This system would generally be fitted at the dealer’s end,” says Mr. Juneja.

“Given the kind of money people spend on high-end car audio systems, it would not be hard to find a market for this unique product. ,” he adds.

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