Friday, September 26, 2008

Will all new channels come to only Rs 1949/=

With the introduction of Bloomberg Television only to the Rs 1949/= premium package many of the Rs 1400/= premium package subscribers have been left wondering whether all the new channels to be introduced to Dialog TV will only be made available on that package.

If this takes place then many of Dialog's subscribers will disconnect and move to either LBN, PEO TV or an even worse blow will be if they purchase an Indian DTH connection.

So far information coming in suggests that many have adopted a ready to change attitude but with a little bit of wait and see thrown in. Since Bloomberg TV is mainly focusing on business news and would be useful for the businessman who will be able to afford a channel such as this Dialog TV may have opted to make this channel only for the Rs 1949/= just to make a quick buck. However a wise businessman would rather invest in a satellite dish and watch this channel FTA instead of paying a higher rental to Dialog TV.

Maybe Dialog TV will introduce their other new channels to both premium packages and if they don't then they will be left with less premium package subscribers that they started out with and the break even dream will be delayed further by a few more years.

With competition increasing in the pay television field a high handed stupid move like this will spell the end of Dialog TV.

We hope Dialog TV management makes note of all these and we urge the Dialog TV subscribers to get in touch with Dialog TV via email or phone and urge them to undergo a change otherwise Dialog make soon become the next Comet Cable.

Please keep us updated on the latest developments as the days progress.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Bloomberg TV on test

Dialog is presently testing international business channel Bloomberg Television on their platform. According to information being received it seems that the channel will be available on their new Rs 1949/= premium package and not to the older Rs 1400/= premium package subscribers.

If this is true then it will mean that this is a tactic adopted by Dialog to strip their Rs 1400/= older premium subscribers of the premium status and force them to come to Rs 1949/= package in order to view the new channels. This will definitely cause dissatisfaction among their subscribers causing them to move to PEO TV/LBN since competition has now arrived on the pay television market.

A tactic of this nature will affect Dialog's ability to attract new subscribers too, we hope that Dialog TV reverses its decision with immediate effect and makes this channel available for the older premium subscribers too.

Please keep us updated on the latest developments regarding Dialog TV as the days progress.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Dialog TV set top box vs SLT IPTV set top box

Several Dialog TV subscribers who have been issued with letters have not been given the new decoder as yet and the subscribers who are receiving letters at present have been given the switch over date of HBO channels and Star Movies to MPEG4 as September 20th.

We are posting some images of the SLT IPTV set top box and the Dialog TV set top box for comparison purposes. The Dialog TV MPEG4 set top box and the older CBNsat MPEG2 set top box is compared along with the SLT IPTV set top box in the images given below.

Above : CBNsat Set Top Box vs SLT IPTV Set Top Box
Above : Dialog TV MPEG4 Set Top Box (front view)
Above : Dialog TV MPEG4 Set Top Box (rear view)
Above : SLT IPTV Set Top Box (rear view)

Above : CBNsat MPEG2 Remote Control vs IPTV Remote Control
Above : Dialog TV MPEG4 Remote Control

A big thank you goes out to Lisura for providing us with the above images. Please keep us updated on the latest regarding Dialog TV as the days progress.

Friday, September 5, 2008

MPEG4 switch over on September 15th?

According to the latest batch of letters being delivered to Dialog TV premium package subscribers it seems that Star Movies and the HBO channels will move to MPEG4 platform on Sep 15th. As per the letter Baby TV, Channel News Asia, etc will be available from the end of September. This date will only be enforced if Dialog TV is able to replace all decoders by the 15th.

At present there is a major discussion on this blog over the unavailability of HDMI and Component Outputs on the new decoder. This decoder that Dialog TV is issuing is a basic MPEG4 decoder. When Dialog TV launches HD channels we believe that a new decoder will be sold with HDMI and Component Outputs including DVR features for those who want to view the HD channels.

Please continue updating us with the latest news regarding Dialog TV.