| However, Star is not a likely candidate to be part
of DD’s DTH service, despite the fact that it is launching a new FTA
channel later this month, called Star Utsav.
“Star has not been party to (initial) meetings (on DTH),” Sarma
was candid enough to admit, but pointed out that Zee Telefilms had
offered some channels for the DTH service.
DD is setting up a DTH service at a total cost of Rs 5 billion
to be spent over a period of five years. The Planning Commission-sanctioned
project is primarily aimed at covering those areas of the country
that cannot be reached through terrestrial TV transmission of DD.
Moreover, had DD gone in for such a terrestrial transmission, it
would have been a heavily costly affair. Compared to that investment,
the project cost for DTH is almost peanuts.
Pointing out that DD would be unable to go in for a revenue share
at the moment with those private satellite channels that come on
board the DTH platform, Sarma said, “As our subscription management
system gets established over a period of time, we may work out financial
arrangements with private TV channels.”
This has been necessitated, as ISRO does not have additional and
adequate transponder capacity on its exiting satellites, which are
marketed under the brand name Insat. NSS is a Netherlands-headquartered
satellite company and in recent times has been targeting the Indian
market aggressively.
Also read:
DD may use NSS satellite
for DTH
Prasar
targets April launch
|
