(2 July 2009 9:50 pm)

MUMBAI: Anil Ambani's Reliance Big TV is evaluating proposals from multiple investors to dilute stake even as it plans to pump in around Rs 6 billion in the current fiscal for ramping up its subscriber base to three million.

"We have been approached by several investors and are evaluating these proposals. But I have nothing to state beyond this," says Reliance Communications president Mahesh Prasad.

The 11-month-old DTH service provider has mopped up 1.8 million subscribers and the target is to touch three million, adds Prasad. Big TV's ARPU currently stands at Rs 200.

Reliance plans to invest between Rs 5 billion and Rs 6 billion in the current fiscal but this would depend on the subscriber growth numbers, avers Prasad.

Reliance Big TV also announced the launch of a new interactive feature, iStock, India’s first portfolio tracking application through their DTH platform, in association with Reliance Money.

Reliance Money has created an iStock zone on Big TV’s DTH platform. This zone will not only provide information about Indian and international indices, currencies, commodity, stock and market news, but also provide the DTH customers with value added services including a personal portfolio management tracker.

Says Prasad, “The iStock launch is an excellent illustration of the Reliance ADA Group's successful effort to draw synergies of its domain expertise across various sectors. The iStock application is part of our endeavour to offer customers unique and differentiated content and enhance their overall interaction with the Reliance Big TV brand.”

The Portfolio Manager will allow users to add up to 16 stocks in the portfolio and monitor them independently with an option to edit/ delete/ replace the target stocks anytime. Reliance Big TV will also present all the information in graphic charts to display the trends.

"This is part of Big TV’s increasing focus to build its DTH Vas portfolio. Currently over 10 per cent of the subscriber base uses its various interactive features such as iGames, iCooking, iNews, iAstro and iSports. Though currently offered as a “free of cost service”, as part of its long term strategy, Big TV may decide to monetize its interactive applications through targeted revenue modules," says Prasad.

Big TV sees big appeal for iStock application from cities and smaller towns alike, especially among the trading community who have invested in markets and would like to keep a close watch on their stocks.