DTH war hots up

Jun 06, 2010 - Naresh Sadhwani & Deepak Jhangiani

Palm Expo
This year’s PALM (Pro Audio Live Music) Expo is to be held in June in Mumbai to promote audio video equipment, lighting equipment and musical instruments from leading manufacturers, both national and international.

Apple softens Microsoft
Apple CEO Steve Jobs pumped new life into the Apple, which had been given up for dead. Like a pro magician, the visionary pulled out three rabbits from his high-tech hat — the iPod, iPhone and iPad. Their unprecedented sales made the loss-making company shoot past Microsoft, the computer software giant. Microsoft’s CEO Steve Balmer is quite cool about it. Continuing its focus on software products, Microsoft plans to release the Windows Phone7 by Christmas, this year. Phone7 is the newest version of Microsoft’s smart phone operating in reply to Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android. So the race of Steve v/s Steve is still very much on.

Reader Query
I want to go in for a DTH connection, but with so many brands and so many models like DVR, HD, I am confused.
Dr Shety - Mumbai

Columnist’s Response
The days of a simple set-top box (STB) are numbered. Severe competition between the five major DTH players has created a war not only to out-sale each other but for survival too. Presently, there are five types:
l The normal decoder
l Decoder plus recorder
l HD (High definition) STB
l HD STB plus decoder
l To be zara hatke, Videocon has introduced what the company claims to be the world’s first satellite LCD TV. So we have six service providers and five types.
The six service providers in line of entry into the DTH field are Dish Tv, Tata Sky, Sun Tv, Big Tv, Airtel and Videcon.
Our thumb rule suggestion for any product is to buy it from the company with a proven track record in that category. If you are going in for a normal box, all are in the price range of Rs 1,500-Rs1,700. The top sellers presently are Dish TV and Tata Sky. In the DVR digital video recorder range you have Tata Sky plus, HD DVR from Big TV and DVR from Airtel.
If you are interested in recording your programmes while you are away, then you could select Tatasky or Airtel as both are in the same price range. Big TV being a HD recorder, the price is higher and has similar features. If you have a HD large screen TV and if price is not the criterion, you could go in for the SUN decoder. They are the first to introduce the product. Based on the feedback provided to you, do make the right choice.
Readers are invited to email their queries/suggestions/ comments to sadhwanis@vsnl.com

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