The Anil Ambani telecoms group of India has launched its new DTH platform Big TV on the crowded Indian market. The aim is to win a 40% market share in competition with Tata Sky, Dish TV, state-owned DD Direct, and Sun TV’s DTH service.
“There is a huge opportunity, as less than 5% of all TV homes in India are DTH,” Arun Kapoor, CEO, Big TV told the India Times. The sector is expected to add 11-12 million subscribers over the next year to its current base of around 6 million. “As more players enter, the market will grow and there is enough room for everyone to grow profitably,” Kapoor said. It is estimated that the major growth could be witnessed in semi-urban areas and smaller towns and villages where cable services are not as advanced as in the metros and large cities.
The service will initially roll out in 6,500 towns, offering a set-top box and three-month subscription for Rs1,490 (€23). Kapoor said the bulk of Big TV’s initial costs would be subsidising set-top boxes. Depending upon the package a subscriber opts for, the upfront charges could go up to Rs 3,990 (€62). Competition will become even more fierce when the Bharti Airtel telecoms group also launches its DTH platform in the near future.
