Thinking out of the idiot box.

Byline: Namrata Dadwal

Summary: TV may be ready to discard the 'idiot' tag as it turns intelligent, offering ticket booking and pizza delivery besides the regular serials.

In fairy tales, a swish of the magic wand fulfils all fantasies. In the real world, there's the TV remote. Click a button and stop time, or at least pause a live cricket match to watch Yuvraj Singh hit a six from any angle. Click again to book a movie ticket or order a pizza, even e-mail or chat with your friends. And, of course, there are the umpteen soaps to choose from. No, it's no illusion. Your TV may finally be ready to drop the 'idiot box' tag as it turns intelligent with the direct-tohome (DTH) broadcast and Internet Protocol TV (IPTV).

New players The advent of DTH and IPTV has widened our entertainment options. No more will a visit to the boondocks mean missing your favourite serial. Even in remote areas, where it's tough to lay cable wiring, it's possible to access DTH. The system uses a mini satellite dish that can be installed anywhere. This is connected to a set-top box (STB), which, in turn, is linked to your TV. Prominent players in the DTH arena are dishtv, Tata Sky, Sun Direct and BIG TV.

The IPTV system also uses an STB, but you receive the transmission through a cable that provides three services TV, Internet and landline. A splitter divides the cable between your phone and modem. The modem, in turn, splits the line into two for the broadband connection and TV. So far, the IPTV service is provided by Airtel digital TV interactive and MyWay.

Pay for what you want Gone are the days when you had to accede to the cable-wallah's demands, paying what he asked for and watching the channels he wanted to show. Now, you can decide the channels you want to see and the amount you want to spend on them. The basic packs for DTH and IPTV start from Rs 100 for 50-100 channels. Though at first glance this seems much cheaper than your monthly cable bill (see table), there's a catch. The basic or starter packs include 10-21 audio channels and 5-40 regional ones, many of which you might never watch. You will have to pay extra for certain sports, entertainment, news and kids channels.

For instance, dishtv offers 135 channels in its Silver Pack, which costs Rs 113, plus taxes. Of these, 37 are regional channels and 21 audio. If you want packs that are kid-oriented or sport-specific, you will have to pay an extra Rs 45 a month for them. Similarly, Sun Direct's Shine Pack provides about 130 channels at Rs 525 for four months, of which 36 are regional channels and 31 radio.

Unfortunately, currently, you can't replace the channels you don't want with those that interest you. "Our services are restricted by the terms and conditions laid down by the broadcasters and distributors. We have to perforce take package deals from them, which means we cannot provide flexibility to our customers. Also, some paid channels are expensive, so we prefer to provide them as an option, says Kapil Gupta, head, marketing, MyWay.

A stumbling block for most customers is the high cost of the equipment needed to be installed. An STB costs upwards of Rs 1,500. A modem without Wi-Fi will cost above Rs 500, while a Wi-Fi modem will cost more than Rs 800. The installation charges range from Rs 100 to Rs 1,500. In case you have two TVs at home, you'll need two STBs and separate connections. Though the second installation is provided at almost half the price of the first one, it does increase the total cost considerably.

The edge DTH and IPTV score over cable TV by a wide margin because of the features they offer. There are interactive programmes such as ICICI Active on dishtv, which lets you do TV banking, and iStox on BIG TV, which lets you check market updates and get in-depth analyses. Similarly, there are special channels for games, cooking, astrology, etc. "Our interactive channels give the customer the freedom to decide which programme he wants to watch, when it suits him. Services such as our shopping application are high in demand, says Vikram Mehra, chief marketing officer, Tata Sky.

IPTV also lets you book movie tickets, consult maps, check railway information or have pizza delivered at home. With the help of the alphanumeric remote, you can even send text messages, e-mails or chat with friends. "We are working on a travel platform, which will let customers book rail and air tickets too, says Gupta.

A convenient feature of IPTV is the time-shifted TV, which lets you record programmes to watch later. Among DTH players, this service is provided by Tata Sky+, but the STB, which has a personal video recorder, is much more expensive at Rs 8,999, as opposed to Rs 1,499 for a regular STB. Another feature being brandished is 'movies on demand'. However, at Rs 50 for a monthly subscription or Rs 25 for one movie, it's not worth the price as the movie libraries are still small and your choices are limited.

Reproduced From Money Today. Copyright 2009. LMIL. All rights reserved.

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