Big TV's New Interactive Services - iMall & iHolidays

Big TV has expanded its interactive services portfolio to include 'iHolidays' and 'iMall', both targeted at providing users a complete experience of their DTH service.

iHolidays as the name suggests allows subscribers to search, view and book their dream holiday packages on the travel portal - Ezeego1.com, and also get affordable and discounted deals on international and domestic hotels.

While iMall is a dedicated shopping channel where users can choose from a range of products - jewelery, clothes for all occasions etc. - offered at special prices to BIG TV subscribers.

This service is in association with JPearls, one of the retail brands offering its customers to view and buy gold, diamond and pearl jewellery from the comfort of their homes.

Umesh Rao, senior vice president, Reliance BIG TV, said, "Going forward, we plan to build significant momentum in the VAS (value-added services) space. We are committed to bringing in enriched and differentiated content to delight our subscribers."

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Big TV to Show Marathi Plays

Tapping newer segments, Big TV will now air successful Marathi plays on its Choice Pay Channel for just Rs 25. The plays will be available to the subscribers all through July till August 10th. 2010.

The show includes works from Marathi Theater such as Purush, Raigada La Jevha Jaag Yete, Mee Nathuram Godse Boltoay, Hasva Fasvi, Ranaangan Tee Phool Rani, and Kusum Manohar Lele and many more.

Umesh Rao, Senior Vice President, Reliance BIG TV said, “This is a small initiative from our side to promote Marathi art and culture. This will surely open the doors for our audience to the wide and wonderful world of Maharashtrian theatre."

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Big TV Integrated under New Firm, Reliance Digicom

Reliance recently acquired Digicable, the cable television service provider, in an all stock deal, to form a new firm - Reliance Digicom. Big TV, IPTV and Reliance broadband services will be merged with Digicable.

The new entity, claimed to be the world's fifth largest cable television operator, will start with a subscriber base of 11 million homes.

Speaking on this occasion, Anil Ambani, Reliance Communications, chairman said, "The Digital TV and broadband space is poised for similar explosive growth in the years ahead. With this game-changing move, we hope to lead the next revolution in digital home entertainment in India by offering a world-class TV experience and ultra high-speed broadband capability to a billion people."

This acquisition will offer a wider reach to Big TV that is aiming to add five million new customers every year, along with access to ground digital cable distribution network to compliment Big TV's satellite distribution.

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LG TVs Bundled with Free Big TV Connection

Reliance Big TV has inked a deal with LG Electronics to provide customers with Big TV connection bundled with a 1-month free silver pack on purchase of select LG colour televisions.

However, the customers will have to pay Rs 399 as installation charges. This offer is launched across Karnataka, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Haryana, and is valid till June 30, 2010.

Umesh Rao, senior vice president, Reliance BIG TV, said, "We are excited about this partnership that brings in a dramatic scaling of reach and unprecedented value proposition for LG customers. We will aggressively pursue cross-category alliances to reach out to a broader spectrum of end users."

Also in line with the launch of its high-definition set-top box (STB) with digital video recorder (DVR), Big TV is conducting in-shop display campaign in retail outlets across 100 cities. This includes demonstration units, array of merchandising aids and trained in-shop promoters who will communicate the features and benefits of its high-definition STB and DVR.

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Big TV Launches High Definition STB with DVR

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. 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."

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Big TV Partners with HomeShop18

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.

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.

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Big TV Joins Hands with Ezeego1 to Offer Travel Discounts

In its bid to gain visibility, Big TV is targeting newer markets with its aggressive approach. The company tied up with Ezeego1.com to offer its customers discounts on holiday packages, international air tickets and DTH connections.

Big TV subscribers will get an additional 10% discount on domestic and international hotels and holiday packages from Ezeego1. Similarly, travelers booking an international or domestic package on the travel portal get Rs 1000 off on BIG TV connection or if they book an international air ticket they can avail a discount of Rs 600 on the same.

In addition to these discounts BIG TV is also offering a three months silver pack subscription free. This offer is valid up till March 20th, 2010.

Apart from the travel segment, Big TV is also targeting regional content viewers in Maharashtra. Recently Big TV announced a new Marathi package consisting four Marathi channels - ETV Marathi, Zee Marathi, Star Pravah and Zee Talkies - for a monthly subscription of Rs 5 only if selected as a first language. Also added to the base packs are host of Marathi channels like IBN Lokmat, Star Majha, DD Sahayadri and Mi Marathi.

Big TV has bagged rights of late Marathi playwright, Pu la Deshpande’s stage plays, and also acquired rights of Marathi films such as Samantar, Paandhar, Housefull, Zapatlela, Aaplee Mansaa. The films will be priced at Rs 50 for a 24-hour view pass.

The company is investing nearly Rs 5 crore in its Marathi content showcase, considering that Maharashtra comprises nearly 20% of its overall customer base.

Read more » Big TV Joins Hands with Ezeego1 to Offer Travel Discounts