Dishtv aims to double subscriber base with spl offer

Kochi, May 26: Zee Group owned Direct-to-Home service 'dishtv' today said it hopes to double its new subscriber base with the offer of a free set top box. Addressing a press conference here, dishtv Deputy Vice-President V P Krishna Kumar said the service, which was getting about 1,00,000 new subscribers every month, hoped to double it to 2,00,000 new susbcribers with the new offer.

The offer, valid till June 30, provided 185 digital quality channels besides free movies on demand. The packages range from Rs 2,490 for a three-month subscription and 42 movies to Rs 2,990 for six months and 50 movies and Rs 3,990 for one year and 67 movies. The set top box, costing Rs 2,500, was being given free. Stating that digital entertainment was set to sweep the country, Mr Kumar said dishtv was already providing live television on 20 Kingfisher flights.

An agreement had also been signed with Ashok Leyland for live television on long-distance buses. Live television was also being provided in private cars, he added. Dishtv, which was listed on the BSE in April, currently enjoyed a 60 per cent market share in the DTH segment, he said. Stating that there was a ''huge opportunity'' in the sector, Mr Kumar said of the 78 million cable connected households, only four per cent had DTH. Increased competition had led to market expansion. In south India, the DTH segment had grown by over 70 per cent in the past one year, he said.

Besides dishtv, the other players are Tata Sky and Sun Direct. Reliance also was poised to launch its DTH service soon, he said. Claiming a customer base of 3.2 million, Mr Kumar said dishtv hoped to retain its 60 per cent market share.

UNI