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Big TV Launches High Definition STB with DVR

Big TV launches high definition STB The wait is finally over. Reliance Big TV has introduced its high-definition set-top box (STB) integrated with digital live TV recording feature, across 100 cities in the country.

Priced at Rs 7490 and Rs 7990, this HD DVR set-top box offers five times clearer and sharper image quality with two million pixel resolution and digital surround sound effect.

The digital video recording includes features like pause, play, rewind Live TV, record a program while watching another channel, capability to record up to 200 hours of video programming, 3-in-1 universal remote to give its subscribers the advantage of using single remote to control three devices like the TV, set-top box and any other music player system.

Sanjay Behl, CEO, Reliance Big TV, explains, "This is India's first product with a dual benefit of High Definition viewing and Digital Video Recorder in a single Set Top Box. Further, Reliance BIG TV is the only service provider to offer recording capability upwards of 200 hours and a universal remote control which can manage up to 3 devices."

The pricing differs region wise, in the Southern market the entry offer is priced at Rs 7790 bundled with five months of value pack with a full bouquet of sports channels. While in other regions, Big TV is launching the entry offer at a higher price of Rs 7990. Under this offer, subscribers get three months of Diamond Pack bundled with HD National Geographic and 152 channels. big tv high definition dvr packages The existing Big TV customers will benefit with an upgrade option from standard definition (SD) to HD DVR at the cost of Rs 5990, discount of Rs 1500.

To further extend its offering, Big TV is planning to introduce two new transponders in the next three months that will enable them to broadcast another 60 channels, including Big TV's HD movie and entertainment channels. BIG TV has also signed a HD content deal with National Geographic to telecast their programs in India, and is also in talks with various global HD content providers like CBS, ESPN, FOX News and Discovery.

Apart from this, Big TV plans to launch six new interactive services by this year. Its also open to diluting up to 20% stake to a strategic partner. Behl said, "We are open to diluting our stake up to 20 per cent to a strategic partner. In that case there would be possibilities of Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) as well as other investors showing interest."
Read more » Big TV Launches High Definition STB with DVR

Big TV Partners with HomeShop18

big tv partners with homeshop 18 Aiming to widen its reach, Reliance Big TV has added another channel in its package -Homeshop 18, India's 24-hour shopping channel. With this partnership, subscribers can shop from home, get different brands to choose from, free home delivery, and 15 day money back guarantee.

This adds up to the number of interactive features available on Big TV like - iStock, iCooking, iNews etc. Umesh Rao, chief marketing officer, Reliance BIG TV, said, "I am sure our viewers will benefit from their strong brand associations and it would be an added advantage to have them on our platform. Services like these will provide the right impetus for differentiation for us in the category."

These features will be offered on a high-defition (HD) platform soon, as Big Tv is planning to introduce an in-built Digital Video Recorder (DVR) with its HD set-top boxes. The company expects to add 10 to 15% of its 1.5 million subscribers in the HD segment by this year.
big tv to sell high definition set top boxes
Rao further explained, "What is unique about our HD set-top box is that it will enable the subscriber to receive HD feed and record content from a single set-top box. The pricing will not be off the line with what other players are currently offering."

Big TV is not the only DTH provider that will be offering this service, others like Dish TV, Airtel are soon going to launch HD TV, while Sun Direct is the only operator at present that caters in this segment.

Big TV is also in talks with consumer durable companies to offer their product with HD LCD television sets.
Read more » Big TV Partners with HomeShop18