Your average customer service phone call wait time?

Digital TV to Sell 49% Stake to Foreign Investors

Following the imminent hike in foreign direct investment (FDI) cap in DTH to 74 per cent, Reliance Digital TV (formerly known as Big TV) is looking to forge an oversees alliance by selling up to 49 per cent stake in its DTH venture. According to reports, if the deal goes through, it will raise Rs 2,000-2,500 crore.

Prospective buyers include overseas private equity investors, broadcast and cable companies like Comcast Corporation, the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider and the fourth largest home telephone service provider in the US.

Digital TV is the only DTH provider that doesn't have a foreign stake, and is now looking for funds to more than double its subscriber base from around 4 million in the next 12 to 18 months.

Tata Sky has STAR Group and Singapore-based PE firm Temasek as foreign investors. Sun Direct has partnered with Malaysia's Astro while Dish TV and Airtel Digital TV too have overseas partners.

Sanjay Behl, CEO, Reliance DTH and IPTV, said, "DTH is a capital-intensive industry that requires substantial investment. Our four-screen strategy is to dominate mobile, computers, television and cinema, in which we already have significant presence. Reliance Digital TV has among the best ARPU in the industry and higher percentage of active subscriber base which will only become better going forward."
Read more » Digital TV to Sell 49% Stake to Foreign Investors

Reliance Digital TV Moves out of the House

reliance digital tv on trainsNo longer will Reliance Digital TV be only part of your house, soon you may find Big Tv embedded in your train seat or in your SUV.

According to Sanjay Behl, chief executive officer, Reliance DTH & IPTV, said, “Reliance Digital TV has capability to provide services in cars, buses and trains. We are keen to evaluate all tenders in this regard, including that of the Indian Railways.”

The best part is this service is actually free for the railways and the customers, as the service providers will cough up the sum for the cost of development, management and maintenance as well as the provision of audio and video content, Internet surfing and games.

How does the service provider make the money? Advertisements, yes the service provider is allowed to have adverts as 20% of the content. They can also provide value added services such as ticketing and reservations for hotel. Although passengers will have to pay for Value added services.

Although Dish TV has bagged the pilot project on the Kalka Shatabdi, let see what Reliance Digital Tv has up its sleeves.
Read more » Reliance Digital TV Moves out of the House