Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Dialog's new promotions

This is not about the promotions carried out by Dialog TV but an analysis about some information revealed in the promotion. The said promotion is on Sun FM and so far some of our fellow bloggers have had a small discussion about this.

The promotion highlights the introduction of the Star Channels and says that subscribers who get their connections before September 30th will get all the Star Channels for the Rs 1400/= package and will not have to pay anything extra. By analyzing Dialog TV's package structure it can be seen that some channels such as Star World and Star Vijay are part of the Rs 900/= package. However the Star channels in the Rs 1400/= package are Star Movies, Star Cricket and Star Plus (some say that Star Plus is on the Rs 900/= package but we are unable to confirm this).

The advertisement gives the indication that all connections obtained after Sep 30th will carry an extra charge for the Star channels. This may worry some of the existing subscribers as some may be lead to the assumption that only the subscribers who purchased the connections during the current promotion will be able to receive Star package for the Rs 1400/= package, since Dialog have said that benefits will be passed onto old subscribers too, we can safely assume that they will continue to receive all Star channels after Sep 30th for the Rs 1400/= package.

However what worries us is what will happen after September 30th. Dialog may be planning to add Star Movies to a special package and charge extra for it (which is a structure adopted by Comet Cable too) or are they planning a package higher than Rs 1400/=. To be frank a package higher than Rs 1400/= will be a flop and only a few will be able to afford it. If they do it then Dialog will be restricting itself to only the influential in society and may come across the same problems that Comet Cable faces by having highly priced packages that no one can afford. If Dialog introduces a higher package then what will happen is that the new channels that will come along with transponder 4 when it is launched may be allocated to it and it will be a case of history being repeated since subscribers will have to upgrade to that package to view those channels.

This advertisement for all we might know may be just another marketing gimmick to attract new customers. But we insist that Dialog SHOULD NOT introduce a package higher that Rs 1400/= but if they do so then they can call it the Millionaires Package. To be fair however if giving Star Movies and Star Cricket in the Rs 1400/= package is a burden on the company then they can allocate those two channels onto a special package and offer it for a reasonable additional charge after Sep 30th to new customers but having an additional charge for all the Star Channels is absurd. It is however better to keep Star Cricket in the Rs 1400/= package and charge extra for only Star Movies and any channel thereafter should be added to the Rs 1400/= package.

Dialog TV should embark on an aggressive marketing campaign to sell connections, expand their subscriber base and reduce the monthly rental while increasing their profits (the same thing they did with Dialog GSM). We believe that Dialog can use its subscribers also for their marketing purposes, a few years ago LBN gave a rental free pay television connection to people who introduced a certain number of new customers. Dialog could also follow this example and they do not have to do it literally. They can offer discounts on the monthly rental and benefits to their subscribers who are able to introduce a certain number of friends to Dialog TV for getting new connections. This is a method adopted by banks like HSBC to promote their credit cards too.

On other news it should be said that Star Cricket may come on air today, their seems to have been some delay due to technical problems. We would also like to point out that the EPG on BBC is wrong (it is half an hour ahead) and the EPG on Star Movies is also wrong, apparently Dialog has forgotten that Sri Lanka time and Singapore time are not the same, the Zone Reality EPG is wrong for the last few months, we are not that sure about the other channels but we are sure that our fellow bloggers will check and update us. We stress that Dialog TV should be more professional and make sure that their EPG is accurate and at the moment every month there are problems with it.

Please update us on the latest on Dialog TV as the days progress.

35 comments:

arnold perera said...

Definitely DTV will introduce packages higher than 1400/- Because they are so familiar with mobile packages and how commitment packages work.

Moreover DTV’s main interest will be to catch the hospitality network, where they can earn so much compared to individual connections. They also very well know there are people who are ready to pay any amount to get very good channels.

star said...

Bharti Telemedia to launch DTH

Bharti Telemedia, a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel Ltd., is planning to launch its direct-to- home (DTH) service by the last quarter of FY 2007-2008.

The company has received the Letter of Intent (LoI) for commencing its DTH service from the Information & Broadcasting ministry.

They will be deploying world-class technology and infrastructure to offer the best in class DTH services.

The DTH service will be launched nationally by the company by the last quarter of the fiscal, a company release said. Bharti is setting up state-of-the-art infrastructure near Gurgaon (Haryana) for the purpose of uplinking and broadcast.

Mario said...

Repeated from last post:

Guys i have a tech question, hope someone can help me.

My friend in Dehiwela, got DTV ( 1400 pcks ) about a month ago. The 1st day he was able to see all the channels. But after some time his TP3 signal strength has got week and now when i checked its below 35% so he cant see any of the new channels. Both he and i have complained to DTV so many time s and they promised to come, but well till no DTV van!!

Is it possible to adjust the TP3 signal strength using the "adjust position" option in the menu ?

russel said...

guys

i think STAR cricket will be working in a couple of minutes. Bcoz I just scanned and got 18 on the 3rd TP and there was star cricket there. But it says service is not running.

lucky i was not well, and couldnt go for work....

Mario said...

Tks Russel,

pls let us know as soon as it is activated

justavisitor said...

DTV has added a new channel. Currently it's name is "-----" and shows Star Movies.

kumara said...

HI MATES,


CAN DTV REMOVE ANY OF CHANNELLS THAT THEY HAVE ADDED TO 1400PKG WITHOUT ANY NOTICE TO US.

FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I GOT MY 1400PKG STAR CHANNELLS WERE NOT THERE. IT WAS NOT PART OF MY AGREEMENT WITH THEM.

SO CAN THEY REMOVE STAR MOVIE AND STAR PLUS FROM 1400+ PKG AND ALLOCATE THEM TO A HIGHER PACKAGE.

CAN ANYBODY GIVE AN OPINION ON THIS

City Hits said...

Dear Jasika,
Except star movies n star cricket, other star channels are aval'ble for 900pkg. Pls call and get activated done. Soon...!

GOD TV is aval'ble on request.

STAR CRICKET ON PROCCESS.

arnold perera said...

@Kumara
Its possible and there is nothing which obstruct such move. If DTV says their cost to provide these channels increased then they can move it to higher package.
No one in this world can insist to provide the service when it loss for them.

Vishkid said...

@ Kumara - there's no straightforward answer to that question. As per your agreement, DTV reserves the rights to allocate or change channels to your package. But they must do that in a way that does not discriminate, deceive or in any other way cause injustice to the subscriber according to the consumer laws. But injustice is subjective and this is a bit of a gray area.
There was much discussion on this when DTV 'hoodwinked' most of the lower package subscribers to upgrade to the 1600/- package using the test channels as bait.

@AMD - one of my pals in Kalutara faced more or less the same issue when the alignment of his dish changed. He couldn't see anything at all, after a while. Since DTV did not visit his place in a satisfactory time he himself changed the location of the antenna (Not Recommended) and got the signal strength back.

City Hits said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Amalka said...

Hi...

Official launch Star Cricket 10.08.2007...Technical Team still testing..some time Star Cricket Test transmission will Start today

kumara said...

MACHANG ARNOLD,

IF THAT IS SO WE ARE GOING TO BE IN A BLOODY SOUP. NOW WE ARE TALKING BIG ABOUT STAR MOVIES AND STAR PLUS AND STAR CRICKET. BUT STILL DTV CAN REMOVE THESE CHANNELLS AND GIVE THEM TO A HIGHER PACKAGE

ADMIN HAS ALREDY VOICED ABOUT THIS CONCERN. DTV HAS KEPT VERY QUIET ABOUT THE WHOLE ISSUE. AS YOU SAY ARNOLD, DTV HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO REDUCE THEIR LOSSES
BUT IT SEEMS TO BE THAT IS GOING TO BE AT THE COST OF EXISTING CUSTOMERS. KIND OF INNOVATIVE MARKETING.....

arnold perera said...

Kumara,
May be what you said is true. So many people saying so many things BUT Just give a straight forward answer for this question,

At the time you purchased the connection there is nothing called STAR package on the agreement, So why DTV even has to think there is any agreement with any of the current subscribers.

When DTV started selling connections with the name of STAR package, those people may have some right to ask question. I dont think others have anything other than to Request not to do so

kumara said...

KIDO-CMB.

MACHANG THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT. THIS NOT A PROBLEM THAT IS LIMITED ONLY TO ME. IF THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, IT WILL AFFECT ALL EXISTING 1400PKG HOLDERS. SO WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY INDIVIDUALS DETAILS, IS IT NOT POSSIBLE TO ONTAIN A CLARIFICATION FROM DTV WITH REAGRD TO THIS ISSUE.

IF YOU CAN DO THAT IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO EVERYBODY.

justavisitor said...

New channel is still scrambled.

kumara said...

MACHANG ARNOLD,

IF YOU WANT ME TO BE VERY FRANK I CAN GIVE YOU A DIRECT REPLY BASED ON THE VERY LITTLE LEAGL KNOWLEDGE I AM HAVING.

FOR ME THERE IS NO AGREEMENT. THEY CAN REMOVE THESE CAHNNELLS AT ANY GIVEN TIME. WHEN I GOT THE CONNECTION THERE WAS NO STAR PACKAGE. BUT THEY CANT DO THAT FOR ANY OF THE PREMIUM CHANNELLS WHICH WAS AVAILABLE DURING THE TIME I GOT THE CONNECTION.THAT IS WHY I RAISED THE QUESTION WHEN I SAW ADNMIN'S COMMENTS.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO HOOD WINK DTV, I CAN SUGGEST A METHOD. YOU CAN JUST GET YOUR PACKAGE DOWNGRADED TO A LOWER PACKAGE. SAY TO 500/-PKG. USE IT FOR ONE WEEK. THEN ASK THEM TO UPGRADE IT TO 1400/- THEN YOU BECOME A BRAND NEW CUSTOMER FOR 1400+PKG AND YOU ARE ENTITLE TO HAVE ALL STAR CHANNELLS. BUT YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY FEW HUNDRED RS AS CHARGES FOR UPGRADING DOWN GRADING.

BUT IN THIS MANNER WE CAN HOOD WINK DTV. HOPE THAT WE ARE NOT FORCED TO DO THIS TYPE OF SECOND CLASS THING BY DTV BY RESORTING TO SECOND CLASS THINGS TO REDUCE THEIR LOSSES.

alf said...

JESIKA RUKMAL,THIS IS NOT A NETBALL TEAM,BUT THE RUGBY UNION DREAM TEAM COMPRISING CURRENTLY ACTIVE PLAYERS,THEY ARE REAL MACHO MEN,OPPOSITE OF YOU




All Blacks dominate dream team
08/08/2007
Sportal.co.nz


Martin Johnson
All Blacks dominate the World dream XV of the moment named by the last man to captain a World Cup-winning team, Martin Johnson of England.

Seven of this year's All Blacks World Cup squad are named by Johnson who is writing a blog on one of the tournament sponsors, Orange's website.

The only European players included are Irish centre Brian O'Driscoll and French hooker Raphael Ibanez.

South Africans, lock Victor Matfield and flanker Schalk Burger are included, as is second five-eighths Matt Giteau and Argentinians Agustin Pichot (halfback) and fullback Juan Martin Hernandez.

Of the New Zealanders, Johnson said:

Richie McCaw: "A strong defender with a cool head and quick hands at the breakdown, he has the speed and handling skills to play the linking role to great effect."

Carl Hayman: "Hayman is universally considered the best tighthead prop around and one of the finest scrummagers. He is expected to become the most highly paid rugby player in the world when he joins Newcastle after the World Cup."

Tony Woodcock: "Woodcock's growing reputation is built on strong scrummaging and work-rate, but he also possesses good ball skills and the ability to break out into the loose."

Chris Jack: "Jack is quick over the ground and a terrific lineout jumper."

Jerry Collins: "The Samoan-born All Black is renowned for his tenacity, fierst physicality and brutal tackling. But Collins is no mug in possession, perfectly able to of-load in the tackle and make decisive breaks."

Dan Carter: "The most exhilarating, creative and dynamic player in the modern game, with a kicking game to match. At 25, Carter can only get better - an alarming thought for the rest of the world."

Joe Rokocoko: "His pace, power and strength make him possibly the deadliest finisher in the game and a stunning sight in full flow."

Johnson's team is:

1 - Tony Woodcock, 2 - Raphael Ibanez, 3 - Carl Hayman, 4 - Victor Matfield, 5 - Chris Jack, 6 - Schalk Burger, 7 - Richie McCaw, 8 - Jerry Collins, 9 - Agustin Pichot, 10 - Dan Carter, 11- Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand), 12 - Matt Giteau (Australia), 13 - Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland), 14 - Bryan Habana (South Africa), 15 - Juan Martin Hernandez (Argentina).

Vishkid said...

Well all those who are misguided on the channels/package thing - you don't subscribe to a particular set of channels. You subscribe to a particular package.

What the package gets - you get (including price revisions and channel additions - i.e 1600/- pkg might become 2000/- pkg, who knows).
They can take a channel away from one pkg and put it in another. But if the subscribers in the former pkg had been having that channel for a while then it's unfair and further steps CAN be taken. (not that they will be). Furthermore, if they do that it's their reputation that suffers. So the onus is on DTV to be decent on channel shifts.

Priyantha De Silva said...

I repeat from the last page Because it's parallel with Admin's post of this page.

******
DTV or any other networks in Sri Lanka must not introduce a higher packages more than 1,500 rupees.our life is not only to watch TV.

There are so many reguler bills to pay.(Must pay)
* current Bills
* Water
* News Papers
* telephones
* Cellphones
* rental
* traveling charges
Now,
* satellite TV
without our other essential items like food, medicine and cloths etc.

then, it's not a good sign to any kind of networks to introduce a high price of packages.It goes only to Star Hotels or big businessmen ( They always have connections even DTV came to the competition ) not for the domestic usages.

Their solution must be increase the subscribers base, not with the prices of the packages.

there are thousand of people without satellite TV receivers but they can afford it .DTV can sell them their items with giving much more publicity in time to come without increasing the price. Only solution for their dignity.

***
A few months before we were very glad to here more TP's come to existence and thinking our conection of DTV is developing.
Now,
That news brings only tears !
Because the same development breaks our hearts without any kind of mercy.

soorapappa...සූරපප්පා said...

@dimu,
Thanks a lot for your info regarding tata sky. How much signal level do you have ? (because tata sky satellite footprint is marginal for Sri Lanka).
If possible please give more details about connection charges, from where did you got decoders ect. (If you don't like to post it here please drop a mail to sooorapappa@gmail.com).

@kido-cmb,
I've heard a rumor that DTV is NOT going to give a la carte (or pay per view). Is this true ? If not when they planned to launch it ?

Mario said...

Does any one know if i can order a mobile from Dubai or Singapore via the net ?

Unknown said...

They have no immediate plans for transponder 4 and it will take a fair bit of time if there is going to be one as anticipated.

Mario said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
DDS said...

GUYS
WHATS HPN TO THE STAR CRICKET! IS IT WORKING NOW

Thanura said...

STAR CRICKET LAUNCHED !!!!!!

Thanura said...

star cricket is now on.
received a message from DTV to keep our decoders on @ 9.00PM today to add star channels to the line up. (for those who did not add these channels manually)

CN said...

The launch of the full Star bouquet is splashed full page across the Daily News & Mirror, hence no option but to enable Star Cricket before COB today...

Funny thing though, http://www.satcodx3.com/0450/eng/ lists Star movies on 0.44Mbps. If this is true, this is pathetic!!! The most key movie channel in their line-up allocated such a low bandwidth. I have compared HBO & Star Movies on Comet for almost a decade, and its no surprise the movie selection, timings, etc on Star Movies greatly exceed HBO.

Also, just look, NDTV (a news channel get 3.36Mps, whilst Star Movies 0.44Mps) Looks ridiculous to me...

Riky: why is DTV not allocating more bandwidth for key channels and improving their picture quality?

Looser said...

Why do we worry about the bandwidth? If we get a good picture quality who care's about the bandwidth & signal level etc.

soorapappa...සූරපප්පා said...

@cn,
I'm sure they use variable bit rate (VBR) for compression and hence bandwidth will vary with time (satcodx shows bit rates at scan time). But I'm totally agree with you that they should use maximum bandwidth possible and reduce compression which cause bad quality. Seems like they'll use some nasty settings with compression parameters. LOL...
Also there is a disadvantage with high bandwidth that it'll have high effect when raining.

Mario said...

Now it shows:

Star Movies


TS: 1.2 Mbps

DLR said...

looser, Are you saying good picture quality for this.

Some times my tv is just like KOU RULE BOOK.
This DTV idiots have allocated 3.9Mbps for Rupavahini but not turning FTA anntena to get good signal strength while premium channel HBO Sig was allocated only 0.61 but crap channels like SET sub 1.99
SET 1.63

Mario said...

Star Movies NOW 4.03 pm


TS: 3.99 Mbps

PSH said...

STAR CRICKET NOW on AIR
Enjoy your Game...!

Kido-CMB

TV & Radio Sri Lanka said...

Please continue to comment under the new post titled "Star Cricket Launched"

Admin