New Indian DTH Platform Launches

NEW DELHI, August 8: Tata Sky, the long-awaited DTH platform
owned by the Indian conglomerate TATA and News Corporation’s Asian arm STAR,
launched today in 300 cities across India.

The venture, 80 percent owned by TATA and 20 percent by
STAR, is selling the hardware required for Rs. 2,999 ($65), with an
introductory offer of Rs. 200 ($4) per month. The channel lineup includes
offerings from STAR, Sony, Discovery, Disney, MTV, NDTV, ESPN STAR Sports,
National Geographic, Eenadu, TV Today, Asianet and more. Promising DVD-quality
images, the service is also delivering a range of interactive features,
including an EPG. “By bringing satellite television directly into Indian homes,
Tata Sky is set to change the way viewers watch television—with pristine
quality, choice, convenience and control at their fingertips, delivered at a
competitive price,” said Vikram Kaushik, the MD and CEO of Tata Sky. “We are
confident that offering a television service that is second to none, while
providing top-of-the-line convenient and efficient customer service to our
subscribers throughout every contact point including sales, service and
billing, will set us apart from the competition.”