Broadcasting

May 31, 2006
HCL, ZEE take DTH to next level of growth

NEW DELHI -- In what could be the next big boost in the evolving direct-to-home (DTH) TV segment, Dish TV, India’s first DTH service provider has teamed up with HCL Infosystems, wherein Dish TV would be leveraging HCL’s undisputed distribution and service support reach to widely expand its base in the nation. While Dish TV aims to almost immediately double its distribution reach with this tie-up, it would enable HCL to offer a revolutionary digital entertainment service as part of its digital lifestyle portfolio.

Announcing the tie-up, Ajai Chowdhry, chairman and CEO , HCL Infosystems, said: "Continuing our quest to bring a digital lifestyle revolution in India and its legend of tying up with leaders, we are sure that this tie-up would enhance the accessibility of DTH in India, thus taking this global standard of broadcast entertainment to even remote regions of the nation, which do not have any access to traditional cable TV system. Coupled with over three decades of experience in spearheading pioneering solutions in the ICT domain, we hope that we would be able to aptly back Dish TV in defining the next generation of TV viewing in the nation."

Commenting on its tie-up with HCL Infosystems, Jawahar Goel, additional vice chairman, Essel Group of Industries, added: "We are very happy to partner with HCL. We have partnered HCL because of its undisputable strength in offering marketing & distribution support for technology brands. We are confident that HCL will bring the same value as they have brought to some of the other leading global brands in India."

DTH, with its digital transmission capabilities and host of interactive features such as Movies-on-Demand, multi audio feed, etc., is increasingly becoming the new global standard of TV viewing and distribution.

Indian market is at the threshold of transforming from analog to digital environment. Indeed, as per the estimates of Media Partners Asia (MPA), India would emerge as Asia’s largest market for DTH, overtaking markets such as Japan as early as 2008. The fact that Dishtv has experienced a ten fold increase in its subscriber acquisition rate across India, in last one year further substantiates the growing emergence of this revolutionary broadcasting medium in the country.

Announcing its aggressive expansion plans and how HCL fits in as a strategic partner, Sunil Khanna, CEO, Dish TV India, noted: "After successfully drafting the first chapters of DTH revolution in India, we are now all set for an aggressive expansion both in terms of reach as well as technology. In this perspective, we feel that HCL, with its proven capability to market leading global digital technology brands and pan-India distribution and support network, would provide us right impetus and inputs to continue our leadership in this domain. Through this alliance, we aim to expand the choices available to Indian viewers in terms of the channels they want or don't want and provide them the high quality digital pictures, etc. We are trying to bring a true digital TV experience to Indian quality conscious consumers."

To be launched in a phased manner, HCL would be working to strengthen the presence of Dish TV in around 13 key cities in the first phase. This would be followed by identifying newer markets, through HCL’s established capability and presence in even the remotest corners of the nation. HCL would be organizing direct-to-customer initiatives & roadshows to enable customers experience the digital DTH difference!