Nov 20, 2008 01:54 PM
23331 Views
(Updated Feb 25, 2011 01:27 PM)
Airtel DTH has packaged a futuristic deal into their services that are before their time.
Their set-top box (STB) has an in-built USB port that is Internetready (services to be launched shortly) Which means connect your computer through a USB cable and you could have a one stop internet cum TV cum World Space Radio cum information hub cum online shopping experience.
Currently for just Rs.1690/- they offer you 4 months of economy with world cup cricket package free viewing and free installation all inclusive.
Their DTH Recorder is just about nearly Rs.3500/- all inclusive with one month of ULTRA pack free viewing
Their remote is pretty unique in the sense that you can teach it to learn the off, on and volume up, down functions of your TV's remote just by pointing the InfraRed of both the remotes towards each other and foolwing the instructions given in the user manual.
Good Electronic TV Guide (ETG) that gives you almost a week's info in advance and a brief synopsis of the current programme. Onenifty feature missing in the other DTH operators on-screen menu is their time elapsed bar of the current programme .. you get a fair idea of how much you must have missed out, or how much more is remaining in the current programme that you watch.
It's a competitive market and all of them are loss making services. Theirpackages may get tweaked further but only to decieve.
With so many operators, quality and services should improve and TV viewing will never be the same again .. at least its given us relief from thecareless attitudeof the local cable operators. Even they have pulled up their socks and come up with attractive offers like YOU SCOD etc.
AIRTEL DTH sends qualified uniformed technicians carryingfancy NOKIA E61 handsetsfor the installation that are done quite professionally with courteous staff who have been trained to address their customers politely by their HR division.
Personally I still feel that TATA Sky (999/- only) has an edge with their TataSKY Plus now for just Rs.3999/- despite using MPEG2 platform compared to AIRTEL's MPEG4 .. but Airtel have their own strengths. Airtel's biggest disadvantage is that they don't have their own media (TV Channels) like DISH TV have their own Zee channels, TATASKY is tied up with Star bouquet, SUN with their own Southern branding, Reliance with their BIG advantage of ADAG backing etc.
Just hope that one day we too can change operators by just changing the smart card inside these set top boxes like how we change the sim card in our mobile phones. That will be the day consumer is truly King !
Do give me your feedback and I shall be happy to answer any queries you may have.