Spark Punjabi Comes to Reliance Digital TV

Its going to be Bhangra time on Reliance Digital TV, with the launch of Spark Punjabi on 15th June.

Spark Punjabi, owned by Big CBS, is the first regional channel that will offer CBS's content dubbed in Punjabi. The channel will be available in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh (PHCHP) regions.

Spark Punjabi will have shows like, Amreeka Di Top Models, Veer Hawaii De, Jerry Di Adalat, Kadi Te Has Bol Ve and Zabardast Kushti Nakabposh Veer that will be aired on channel No. 952 on the Reliance direct-to-home platform.

With a market share of approximately 30 per cent, Spark Punjabi is hoping to grow with the ability to reach 4.5 million Reliance Digital TV subscribers.

Anand Chakravarthy, evp marketing, RBNL, said, "As we equip and prepare for the impending digitisation, we want to ensure the best reach and viewing experience for Spark Punjabi. We are happy to be available on our group company Reliance Digital TV, which will fortify the position of the channel amongst the people of and from the region. We will through the product continue to offer value to both consumers and marketers alike."

While Ashutosh Srivastava, business head, Reliance Digital TV, added, "By adding Spark Punjabi to our bouquet of channels, we now offer the dedicated international content dubbed in Punjabi along with reality shows in the same language for our subscribers from the Punjabi speaking regions of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh thus, providing superior quality entertainment directly in the comfort of their homes."

The channel is currently distributed across PHCHP region on digital and analog formats and claims a reach of 6 million households.

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Digital TV to Showcase Big Magic Channel

In a bid to expand its presence in the Hindi-speaking belt of the country - UP, MP, Bihar and Jharkhand - Reliance Digital TV has formed an alliance with the entertainment channel, Big Magic, part of the Reliance Broadcast Network. The new channel will replace Imagine TV, channel No 213, on Reliance Digital TV - thereby increasing its reach to an additional 4.5 mn digital homes.

This also marks the beginning of a slew of digital alliances that Big Magic is in the process of closing. The partnership with Reliance Digital TV will be promoted aggressively on BIG MAGIC as well as on 92.7 BIG FM. It will also be featured on BIG MAGIC’s recent campaign - ‘100% UP Wale/100% MP Wale’.

Speaking on this occasion, Ashutosh Srivastava, Business Head, Reliance Digital TV, said, "By adding BIG MAGIC to our bouquet, we now offer the unique regional variety entertainment content like movies and daily soaps for our subscribers from the Hindi speaking states of UP, MP, Bihar and Jharkhand directly in the comfort of their homes."

Big Magic is currently being distributed across all cable operators like DEN, Digicable, WWIL, Hathway, Darsh and Maurya amongst others in the states of UP, MP and Bihar, reaching approximately 10 million households in the heartland.

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Reliance Digital TV & BIG RTL Crack Distribution Deal

In a first of its kind tie-up for the company, Reliance Digital TV announced their association with BIG RTL, the joint venture between Reliance Broadcast Network and the RTL Group, as the distributors of Big RTL's latest offerings - a reality channel and an action entertainment channel.

The tie-up will provide BIG RTL the reach it needs to provide world-class programming to maximum audiences in the country, while Reliance Digital TV can provide its 30 lakh subscribers with top-rated international TV shows.

Reliance Broadcast Network currently offers a bouquet of 7 channels, and its joint venture with RTL and subsequent tie-up with Reliance Digital TV is all set to bring them one step closer to bridging the apparent gap in entertainment programming in India.

Big RTL also recently launched the 'Choose Your Set-Top-Box Wisely' campaign designed to raise awareness among consumers to choose the right set top boxes and enabling operators to build their brand equity.

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Discovery Turbo Now on Reliance Digital TV

Taking advantage of the buzz the F1 race created in India, Reliance Digital Tv has chosen to add the Discovery Turbo channel to their channel list. Discovery turbo, serves content that consists of the A to Z of motoring. It includes shows like American Choppers, Monster Garage, Fifth Gear, Trick My Truck and Wheelers Dealers.

Rahul Johri, senior vp, gm, Discovery India, said, "We have received tremendous response for Discovery Turbo across India, where people watch and connect with our engaging and unmatched content. The availability of Discovery Turbo on Reliance Digital TV expands the reach of the channel, as it continues to offer the best entertainment experience to our viewers."

Sanjay Behl, ceo, Reliance Digital TV, added, "At Reliance Digital TV, we have been constantly engaged with enhancing the entertainment experience for our customers by providing them quality entertainment that spans across a wide spectrum of audience interests. With the addition of Discovery Turbo to our bouquet of over 250 channels, we are sure to delight our customers with the engaging content delivered to them through a superior technology platform ensuring an unmatched viewing experience."

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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."

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Reliance Digital TV Moves out of the House

No 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.

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Reliance Digital TV's Special Offer for Kerala

Reliance Digital TV has announced a special offer on the festive season of Onam for its customers in Kerala. Through its 'Moonu Varangal' offer, new subscribers on the lookout for a DTH connection can purchase Reliance Digital TV's special entry pack starting at Rs 1,590 with free installation and 6 months free viewing of Value Sports Pack.

The customers also get free unlimited viewing of Malayalam blockbusters till September 30th, 2011 and earn loyalty points for every rupee spent. Even the existing subscribers of Kerala can avail of the loyalty program.

With this program, subscribers can accumulate points for every rupee spent with Digital TV and redeem their points to choose from a wide range of channel packages and value-added services.

For new TV buyers, Reliance Digital TV has tied up with MIRC Electronics, makers of the Onida consumer durables, to offer a new connection for just Rs 899 with any Onida HD ready LCD TV model with 1 month free viewing of 'Silver Plus' pack.

Customers purchasing any of Onida’s Full HD LCD/LED TV model can now enjoy over 250 High Definition channels with Reliance Digital TV's HD box for Rs 1,199 with free subscription for one month of 'Diamond Pack+2 HD channels'. This special deal is valid only in the state of Kerala till September 15th, 2011.

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