Dish TV, TataSky plan to roll out DVR technology

With competition hotting up in the direct-to-home television segment after the entry of Reliance Big TV and Bharti Airtel DTH, market leader Dish TV and TataSky are planning to introduce DVR technology around Diwali time to stay a step ahead.

The Digital Video Recorder (DVR), which allows viewers to record programmes in one channel while watching another and play according to convenience, is being billed as the next big thing in the evolving Indian DTH market.

"This, of course, will be a premium product and we plan to announce the launch of DVR technology platform for our DTH service very soon. It will be a Diwali gift to our customers," TataSky Chief Marketing Officer Vikram Mehra said.

Similarly, market leader Dish TV is also readying to roll out its DVR platform.

"Our launch of DVR is expected around Diwali and our offer will have 140 hours of recording time," Dish TV Chief Operating Officer Salil Kapoor said, adding the set top boxes for the DVR were expected to cost around Rs 10,000 each.

Their new rivals Bharti and Reliance Big entertainment are also readying DVR platform.
While an RCom official said soon the company would unveil DVR, industry sources said Bharti DTH may also launch the same thing.

Asked if they were compelled to bring the new technology due to increased competition, both TataSky and Dish TV denied.

"We have been planning for it over the last eight months doing pilot studies. Now we are ready to roll-out," Mehra said.