Dish TV to take on Sun Direct, drops rates in South India

MUMBAI: The DTH (direct-to-home) action has moved to the southern market even as Sun Direct has mopped up one million subscribers in a short span of 200 days with low subscription pricing.

With Sun pricing its packages from as low as Rs 10 to Rs 140, market leader Dish TV has been forced to drop rates. The Zee Group DTH operator, boasting of 3.5 million subscribers across the country, has reduced the entry cost by over 40 per cent and introduced a special hat-trick offer for its subscribers in the four southern states.


As per the new rates, a new Dish TV connection in South India would now be available for Rs 1990 (plus Rs 200 as installation charges) from the earlier Rs 2,950 (plus Rs 200). In addition to this, there is monthly recurring cost starting at Rs 60 per month going up to Rs 300 per month.

Dish TV is also offering three benefits to subscribers under the hat-trick offer. The subscribers will be offered five leading sports channels, 33 free movies and unlimited gaming free for one year.

Sun Group's DTH offering includes 14 add-on packages (ranging from as low as Rs 10 to Rs 140) to "suit every pocket" in a "Pay for what you watch" concept. The one million subscribers, the company says, have come from only the four southern states - Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh - and the union territory of Pondicherry.

Sun Direct launched four regional basic tiers consisting of over 100 plus channels specific to each southern state (Tamil basic, Telugu Basic, Kannada Basic and Kerala basic) at the rate of Rs 75 per month.

Sun Direct now plans to have a national roll out strategy.