Friday, September 24, 2010

ETV replaces Max TV

ETV has replaced Max TV on the Dialog TV channel lineup as of last night. This is actually a good move since Prime TV which was the only Local English Language Television channel and it has not lived upto expectations ever since its launch last year.

Many of us were under the impression that Max TV went blank in order for Dialog TV to add Ten Cricket but now it is interesting to see which channel will be removed to make way for Ten Cricket. Hopefully it will be one of the crappy Hindi channels which are available on Dialog TV.

Dialog TV could also get rid of Prime TV or TH TV in order to add Ten Cricket. In addition Dialog is having problems with Aarti TV and should remove the channel and add a Hindu channel from India.

Please keep us posted on the latest from Dialog TV as the days progress.

144 comments:

Lisura said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lisura said...

I think they should remove TH TV and put Ten Cricket in that slot.

If DTV checks Dish TV channel line up they could find a better hindu channel to replace Arti TV.

star said...

Dish Tv reaches 240 channels. Here we are talking about removing & adding channels.

There are better Hindu channels are available in India. Why can't Dialog Tv add one of that? Best one may be SVBC channel. It has Tamil Audio for some of the Live programs.

Mario said...

@ STAR

Why do u always want DTV to have so many channels like those Indian DTH operators. For a country like India with such a vast variety of religions/casts, and billions of people, obviously you have to have a big variety of channels. That wont do for a country like Sri Lanka.
We need a few good channels, with variety.

There is no point keeping channels like MAX TV, TH TV, just for the sake of having a big no. of channels.

Lisura said...

What is the variety DTV have ?

* 1 Hindi music channel
* 1 english music channel
* still NO major tamil channels like Sun TV and Raj TV.

News, Sports and Movies are the only areas you have a choice but at a huge cost.

Music, Lifestyle channels are lacking a lot.

compare the packages and see for yourself.

Duffy said...

Adding 'ETV' is indeed a great move by Dialog TV after a long time. but this should have been done years ago...Coz contentwise, ETV has the best Western entertainment line-up. Although it was only available in Metro Colombo via terrestrial transmission.
My personal opinion is that DTV should carry 'ART TV' as well...

Mario said...

@ DUFFY, I think there was some issue related to Satellite re-broadcasting, that why ETV and ART couldnt added. But now it deems some agreement has been made so lets hope that add ART TV as well.

Unknown said...

we want channel V and WB movie channel......


dtv has 1 hindi music channel
1 english music channel


we want more above....

sanjana 2 said...

Hello,.....operator without Aarti TV & GOD TV ....Both Chanel Not working remove these Chanel add new good Chanel.............. I hope harry up

admin said...

if dialog tv adds the rugby channel,nba tv,or the super sports channel line up all the indian operaters will have to flee the shores of srilanka.dialog tv will have a monopoly in the local market..and could invade the indian market, cz there is a huge demand for rugby coverage in india specialy from the expatriates... creat a local sport channel and buy the tv rights from the slc.and get thr rights to telecast all international cricket matches that are played in srilanka.indians will have to subscribe to that channel somehow.. when will dialog understand the market, and invest wisely to take dialog tv to be the best in the subcontinent

jagath said...

Today I asked DTV customer care, when did Ten Cricket launch. They said me " we are planning to launch Ten cricket". but i cant understand. will they launch Ten Cricket channel............................? please any one have answer ? plz tell me

Priyantha De Silva said...

@ ETV,
Thanks Dialog for the good move.
so, I hope they keep the Prime TV too.
we are out of Colombo and don't have any facility to watch Prime TV, Siyatha TV or Max TV , if they are FTA channels.

@ Ten Cricket,

To add Ten Cricket Channel, I suggest to replace "Zee Cinema" . Specially that channel not include Eng. Subtitles for any programme like Zee TV.

Set, Star Plus and Set Max brings more entertainment programmes, like Indial Idol, Film Fare Award, IIFA, and talent shows . Many young generation children like to watch them and it's better to keep them than 'Zee cinema' temporally till the next transponder available in the far future.

@ jagath ,
Don't trust those Customer Care guys. They don't know even what we have known here. They are somewhat behind the real happenings.

star said...

@ Mario,

What is the good tamil channels available in DTV? Are there any tamil music channels ? DTv has no variety of channels for tamil customers.

DTV has more Hindi Channels than Tamil Channels. Look at the LBN line up.

Even look at the Price. You are telling DTV don't have much variety of channels or not require. But, then why they are charging so much for their little variety of channels?

Go to North & see how many of them are using Indian DTH. Why? Because DTV don't have the channels which they want.

Lisura said...

@ Priyantha

Well said ! Very True. Hope dialog will take this into consideration. I feel that lot of changes are happening since the active comments on this blog.

@ Star

Indian DTH is the best for anyone who wishes to receive quality Tamil channles like Sun music, Sun TV, ss music etc.

Dish TV has about 20 really good channels. I dont think DTV will ever beat that. So it's fair by our tamil friends to get Dish TV.

Mario said...

@ Star

LBN is concentrating on mostly the tamil speaking people than english crowd. Look at their coverage areas and their channel line up. DTV is not like that, their target auidence is different. They have to balance their channels with the limited capacity they have, and satisfy everyone. Obviously people in the north want more tamil channels so they will go for Dish. If LBN had coverage there, they they would get LBN.

If and when DTV gets the capacity to expand later on, then im sure they will expand to the tamil market too, but until then they have to make a balance with the options they have.

Lisura said...

@ Mario

Let DTV balance themselves !

We get the channels we want from Dish TV or other DTH provider !

Mario said...

@ Lisura

The freedom of choice of yours!

jagath said...

Priyantha De Silva, thanks for your response.......

I have sent over 250 e-mail to Dialog TV to launch "Ten Cricket" and called DTV customer care over 100 times on 10th August to till today. But DTV not responded. Peo tv and LBN cable tv added "Ten Cricket" recently, but i cant think about DTV. Why they, not launch "Ten Cricket" ? I think DTV will not launch "Ten Cricket" recently.......................

ridma said...

plz add ten cricket.peo tv add ten cricicket

ridma said...

plz removed CCTV9 &TH TV.plz add ten cricket & another good channel.why late add ten cricket.it is very big problem.we are sad.peo tv add ten cricket.dtv is late.why??????

neilw said...

NEEDED:
Ten Cricket, Channel V, PIX

NOT NEEDED:
CCTV9, Zee Cinema, Prime TV

Unknown said...

apita onemai Ten cricket, channel V, WB movie channel........


apita epa cctv9, prime tv, ETV.....


api dtv gana go balaporottu tiyagn inne.... api oyalage good custemersla awurudu 4ka idala.....

api wena ewa gatte na dtv gana wiswasaya thiyala....

api ganath hitanna.... pls..

apita dila thiyena channel gana api satutata patwenwa.

wena aya nodun godak hoda channel oyala apita dila thiyenwa. milin ekata stuti karanna one..
oyalata puluwan apiwa tawat satutu karanna....

apita balanna hoda channel labadenna...............

Larukh said...

I think ETV is much better than those crappy channels like THTV, Prime TV. ETV has some Sri Lankan Business content which might be useful to some people. THTV and Prime TV are just garbage. Remove those and add TEN Cricket and another good sports channel.

ridma said...

plz removed TH TV,ETV,CCTV & PRIME TV.plz add ten cricket,channel9,euro sports,good australian channel.why late add ten cricket.it is problem.peo tv add ten cricket.why late????????????peo tv custormer very very happy.we are sad.

Chandika Gunawardhana said...

please add Ten Cricket

Tharindu Hasanka said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tharindu Hasanka said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tharindu Hasanka said...

Ten Cricket....Ten Cricket....Ten Cricket....its all about Ten Cricket....Plz Dialog pay your attention to Create a Local Sports/Cricket Channel.....as well as Adding Ten Cricket

Mario said...

DTV Still havent updated their site with TEN ACTION & ETV

sanjana 2 said...

please remove god tv and arati tv .........both chanel not working please check

DigitalTV said...

ETV Rocks !!

Thanks DTV !

Chandika Gunawardhana said...

Still no sign of TEN CRICKET......
:(

Nalin Kiing said...

Don't waste your time by talking about garbage DTV. If you guys need quality channels just moved to "Teledasun" (LBN) if you're live withing their coverage area or to any DTH providers in India, that's the simple and quick answer to your worries

jagath said...

Today i called Dialog TV coustomer care and i asked when launch "Ten Cricket" They told me this october 25th they will launch "Ten Cricket". is it true? please help me any one....

jagath said...

Good news...... for all of Dialog TV coustomers. "Ten Cricket" will launch 25th october... (According to Dialog Tv coustomer care). Now it is on experiment level. Then we can hope watch "Ten Cricket"

Lisura said...

What is the price for Ten Cricket ?

Rs. 99 ???

Lisura said...

Dish TV adds NEO Cricket & NEO Sports !

Now they have 10 sports channels on their platform. The HIGHEST for any DTH provider in the region.

DigitalTV said...

WOW !
Good News !

What are the channel numbers ?

But its not mention in Lyngsat

http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/dish.html

Lisura said...

They will add to 656 and 657 most probably between Ten Action + and Ten Cricket.

It's due to be launched on 1st October with the IND vs AUS series.

ridma said...

dont removed ten action & ten sport.plz removed TH TV & CCTV.coming soon...........ten cricket.we are very happy.but missed south africa & zimbabwe live action.

bandula10 said...

Why did Dialog switch from STARWORLD Asia to STARWORLD India. STARWORLD In is rubbish repeating a few old programmes like Bones, Masterchef, How I met your mother, etc. etc daily.It is the same programme repeated 7 days a week. We miss GLEE and all the other new seasons of the good programmes. What can we do to get STARWORLD Asia. GLEE is on it today.

Lankan Blogger said...

We always had STAR World India. And by the way those programmes are not old, they are the previous season to the one currently shown in USA.

Glee finished about three weeks ago now on Star World India. Bones is season 5 (currently season 6 in US) and HIMYM is season 5 also (season 6 in US).

New seasons, as in the ones shown in USA now, won't be in India OR Asia until next year.

No chance of getting the Asian feed in Sri Lanka, since the Indian one is much cheaper and DTV, LBN, PEO all give the Indian one.

PSH said...

@Lankanblogger,
LBN has the Star World Asian feed.

Lisura said...


7 sports channels

Star Sports
ESPN
Ten Sports
Star Cricket
Ten Action +
Neo Cricket
Neo Sports

Dialog TV Set Plan = LKR 600
Dish TV a-la carte = INR 90 = LKR 225

Same feed offered at the same rate for all the operators ! But dialog pricing is 3 times compared to the other operators !

This is another classic example of how DTV robs innocent subscribers money.

Lisura said...


Dialog TV pricing

Discovery Turbo = LKR 199
Discovery Science = LKR 199
Total = LKR 398

Dish TV pricing for both channels = INR 25 = LKR 62.50

6 times more !

these channels are the same indian feed.

Mario said...

BREAKING NEWS >>>>
LANKA BROADBAND
SAY GOOD BYE TO UNLIMITED ADSL

Full story:

SLT ADSL to introduce bandwidth caps + new packages

SLT ADSL to introduce bandwidth caps + new packages

Wed Sep 22, 2010 3:05 pm
Say goodbye to unlimited bandwidth from SLT ADSL. The TRC is cracking down on all ISPs to introduce bandwidth caps and place in a fair-user policy on all broadband packages. There goes the neighbourhood for us heavy users :| At least this way SLT won't dominate the broadband market.

This came after SLT's servers crashed due to the big growth of heavy users (who used the 1mbps xcite package). After this crash, all users of the 1mbps xcite package were affected and their speeds practically came to a standstill (speeds became slower than a dial-up connection). So xcite users (like myself) have been asked to downgrade for the time being and SLT is planning to roll out these new packages to eliminate the old ones.

SLT didn't notify any of it's xcite subscribers of the problem, users had to make the call themselves and verify the decrease in speed. Really bad customer support.

http://lankabroadbandforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=87&sid=f18a26797c8245419ec856893ec2a24b

Lisura said...

@ Mario

This is DTV blog. Not SLT broadband blog.

jagath said...

Also today i called DTV customer care and asked when " Ten Cricket" will launch. They said "Ten Cricket" coming soon to DTV channel lineup. is it true.....? any one have answer......? plz help me.......

DigitalTV said...

If anyone wants to check the old DTV packages

http://www2.singersl.com/singer/products/dialog_tv/index.asp?PC=dialog_tv

Funny !! Still Not updated !!

DigitalTV said...

@Mario

Is it only for Office Plus & Xcel Plus?
How about Office & Xcel Packages?
They will dont have the bandwidth caps ?

Mario said...

@ Rukmal

Im not sure. But according to that screenshot of the packages in the lanka broadband blog, it looks like they will do away with the existing packages and introduce these new ones.

jagath said...

why dialog tv not launch " Ten Cricket" ? it is very good channel.so peo and lbn launched this channel. why DTV late.......

Lisura said...

DTV will Launch Ten Cricket and charge 99-199 LKR for it. Are you willing to pay ?

PSH said...

@Lisura,
This is DTV blog. Not Indian DTH Blog. ur always promoting Indian DTH here.

Admin - Wake up man!

Mario said...

At times like this only we miss the old bloggers like RIKY and i think KALU. The used to give us real inside info on DTV & Dialog.

Im sure some of us remember them..

Unknown said...

DTV walata monawa kiwwat ahenne nane...

antimata api tmi gonnu wenne....
umba.....

Lisura said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lisura said...


@ Megatron


This blog is intended for Dialog TV customers to tell the world about how efficient their service is, or any problems in their service or to plainly congratulate them for a job well done.


So i'm pointing out the problems in their service. When I do so if any other party is getting the benefit Dialog TV is responsible for that and they should address the issue.

I'm posting here from the ordinary subscribers point of view. There is no gain for us protecting Dialog TV no matter what they do. What we care about is getting a better service for a reasonable price.

They are clearly in a path where they tend to forget the consumer needs and merely making huge profits only.

What Neel said is absolutely true !

star said...

Tata Sky HD added NEO Cricket HD channel today.

BIG TV DTH added around 9 channels today. Expected few more.

Dish TV DTH added around 8 channels last 2 weeks.

Where is Dialog DTH going???

Mario said...

IND VS AUS Cricket series, LIVE stream from NEO Cricket available on
http://www.crictime.com/

Lisura said...

While others are adding channels...... Dialog TV is replacing channels !

Typical Comet Cable Strategy !

PSH said...

@Lisyra, Yes i knew that, This blog is intended for Dialog TV customers to tell the world about how efficient their service is, or any problems in their service or to plainly congratulate them for a job well done.

But it doesn't means promoting other DTH services here & No point of comparing with Indian or Foreign DTH. As the Target group is totally different. You compare with LBN/Peo/Multivision Cable, I appreciate that.

Lisura said...

There is no issue about the target group. It's an issue of the content and pricing.

You got it wrong my dear friend. When you try to justify DTV actions like that they only get the profit and as subscriber we dont get any benefit.

Other DTH services are promoted by the actions of DTV. Not by me pointing out the faults of DTV.

Unknown said...

Indian DTH is a very much alive option for us. I don't understand the issue associated with talking about it. We NEED to compare SL DTH with Indian DTH. If SL DTH is not offering value why not consider Indian, we want value, right?

Lisura said...

Very True Deshal.

All what we want is value for money. The point i'm trying to make is that Dialog Pricing is so unethical.

They get the channels at the same price for the other operators. And they pay the same rentals for the Satellite space.

See the price of the channels !!!

Discovery pack is the super example !

sanjaya said...

I'm a unsatisfied customer of dtv.plz give us a value of our money.other oparaters give there customers to good service....There some boring channels .plz remove them and add some good channels for dtv lineup..and we want ten cricket soon....

Isuru said...

oh ho DTV...???

Isuru said...

What is Entertainment???
'Provide with amusement or enjoyment.'

What is DTV?????
-Service is scrambled to non-payment or you have not subscribe to this channel..!

-Dear valued customer, kind reminder on your DTV outstanding...!

-TEN CRICKET will be activated in 2012, @ Rs.199 + taxes per month.(*conditions apply)

Unknown said...

Compearing Dialog TV with other Indian DTH packages or for that matter any other DTH package is the best thing that can happen in the forum. So that the members can dicide.
Dialog TV is too expensive, even the latest DTH package from Nepal (Dish Nepal DTH) is much more cheaper than DTV.

Isuru said...

DTV is expensive...expensive... Tooo expensive..!!!
This is the matter we have ha...!

Teacher: Why DTV packages are expensive than others?

Child: Bcoz they are giving us 4 radio channels..!!

sanjaya said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
sanjaya said...

VH1 is scrambled .....it had been a free channel of all dtv packages from few days ago.But i think they charge again...... when like these are happening,i think normal antenna is better than dtv..

Isuru said...

Dear valued DTV, kind reminder on your software, pls update the name of Ten action in your programe list. Disregard this if the update has been made. Thanx.
(we don't need Ten cricket thanx...!!)

Mario said...

Dialog won the award for "most innovative brand of the year" but unfortunately this dosent apply to DTV !!!

DigitalTV said...

Most expensive brand of the year !!

DTV

Congrats !!

DigitalTV said...

podiman
Pls contact me jrukmal@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks

DigitalTV said...

There are new promos in Dialog website because of the International Customer Service week

http://www.dialog.lk/promos/

Nokia said...

Dialog TV is giving 2 months rental free for all new DTV connections which buy's from their Service Outlets during International Customer Servce Week. Which is 4th October to 8th October.

And there are some other offers for GSM, CDMA & Broadband as well.

Lisura said...


Dish TV receiver only Rs. 7000/=
(2 months free)

Videocon D2H receiver only Rs. 7000/=
(6 months free)

And this offer is there all the time !

Dialog is just fooling the people in the disguise of the customer service week.

Mario said...

DISH TV From Micro World,

All inclusive charges 11,500/- 3 months rental free.

Thereafter 1,100 rental ( full package )

Lisura said...

Microworld is bit expensive. There are reasonable dealers in pettah where they sell the receiver for 7000 and the full package costs only 850 LKR

But these are DIY type of installations where we have to install, configure and troubleshoot.

No big deal ! Any one with a slight technical knowledge can easily do it. Books are available at pettah too !

DigitalTV said...

How much will be a HD Decoder & Rental ?

Lisura said...

HD decoder 11,500 ~ 15,000 LKR
South Platinum package = 385 INR

star said...

I got a Dish Tv HD box with 3 months free subscription for rs. 10,000 from pettah with free HDMI cable, Component cable & composite cable.

Monthly subscription after free period is Indian Rs. 325 + 60 = 385/=

jagath said...

We need Ten Cricket, please add Ten Cricket channel as soon. why DTV late to add Ten Cricket channel?

DigitalTV said...

@ star

Pls contact me via jrukmal@yahoo.co.uk regarding those conection

Thanks

Isuru said...

Hey look...
Guys are rocking but DTV is sleeping.
I think now they are apart from dialog network. Think this is not the dialog blog.
Oh my words...
This blog or these people can not do enything. They hope our comments just for their FUN...
If enyone can visit them just go you will see these
people are an act of laughing us...
Guys shall we tell them like this ''Hey DTV enjoy your self...''

Lisura said...

@ Star / Rukmal

If you got that details please email me the place and contacts.

dialogtv@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Dont take any connection from microworld sat shop. there are not good sho owner.....

dont take...

i have experience from about microworld sat....

dont take any one........ ok.....

Unknown said...

When you are buying a Dish TV connection in SL you have to be a bit careful. Some sells will sell you the additional connections (children). This set up is coming with the main connection (mother). With child connection customer don't have the right to pay directly only the mother connection do have the right. ALL WAYS MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN PAY THE SUBSCRIPTION DIRECTLY TO DISH TV.

Lisura said...

@ podiman

Good point you have raised ! Thank you very much.

kumara said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
kumara said...

Megatron,

Do not get upset about people talking about Dish TV in the blog. That has been happenning all the time. People who pretend to be DTV users, but genuine users of dish tv come here and promte Dish TV all the time.
As a result,some times this blog looks like a DISH TV Blog.
They always give the excuse of that they having the freedom to compare DTV with Dish tv for the betterment of DTV.

What hell there is to compare.
If you are not staisfied with a certain product dont buy it. If you have a better products at cheaper price,buy that. That is the bottom line.

All these dish tv talkers are jokers who pretend to be DTV users. We have seen them earlier also and had a big fight with those jokers. You can go to old blogs and see how much we fought over this matter. But it never ends.

So dont get upset. Just ignore these jokers.

If you have a issue with DTV lets discuss here and find a solution. If the solution is buying Dish Tv Buy that. Why promote here.

We dont want these jokers to tell us what DISH TV has. We can go to DISH TV site and find us that. Why take so much efforts to publish details here ?

As a matter of fact I have been using DTV for last four years. I dont see such big issues with them. True they are not customer oriented, Pricing is not suited to Sl clientale so on ad so forth.

Our duty is to make creative suggestions and discuss same here as a group to get the DTV services improved. Not talk big about DISH dtv who are having enough money and clout to do what they want

Over to you all jokers.

Lisura said...



Kumara's Jokes !


"As a matter of fact I have been using DTV for last four years. I dont see such big issues with them. True they are not customer oriented, Pricing is not suited to Sl clientale so on ad so forth."


Customer orientation and pricing are not big issues to Kumara the Joker !


"Our duty is to make creative suggestions and discuss same here as a group to get the DTV services improved. Not talk big about DISH dtv who are having enough money and clout to do what they want"


Contradictory with his own previous comment !

Thank you for showing the world who the joker is Kumara !

kumara said...

Lisura,

Just because of services are not customer oriented and pricing is too high are you telling me that you are not buying products and services ?

Look around you with open eyes. Remove your DISH TV coloured glasses. Then you will see how we have been buying services and prodcuts with such qualities.

And if you not a DISH TV joker why do you get offended. We have seen what you you have commented in this blog. There is nothing good with DTV. Is that the truth.?

Lisura said...

@ Kumara

I use several DTH connections and according to my experience only I post things here for others to get an informed decision.

I dont need to talk in favour of any DTH provider. Understand that it's DTVs unjust actions which have lead them to fail over Dish TV. Not me commenting here.

Don't just post rubbish here without knowing the facts and really experiencing the service. You are misleading others in to fall into the DTV trap.

What worry do we have when DTV don't want to improve their services according to the consumer needs ?

What has happend to Comet Cable when they ignored the subscriber for long ?

kumara said...

Lisura,

If that are your issues, well and good accepted. Lets discuss about those issues.

But you dont have to come running here to remind us what DISH TV is having. We all know deficincies of DTV and how good is DISH TV.

We all are here with one genuine intention. That is to get DTV improved. If you make your comments with that intention no body will have any problem. But when we look at the blog and specially about your comments about DTV we dont see that intention.

So for a change lets change that.

Lisura said...


"We all know deficincies of DTV and
how good is DISH TV"
~ Kumara


Your comment is self explanatory.

Thanks for that !

jagath said...

Please any one help me.... When Ten Cricket launch ? I dont want about Dish TV, please write about DTV

Isuru said...

oh... Ho... Hooo... Guys what are you doing? DTV or DISH TV ******* people do not care about your coments. What are you fighting for?
Jockers...
Just look at the blog all are jockers.
All the people of DTV are laughing just laughing. Try to do something to your future. Do not waste the time to destroy the friendship for these ******* people...
Keep it cool boys.

Isuru said...

Ahhh...
If you want TEN CRICKET you must visit DTV head office and meet them.
If they are satisfied of you and your skills they will give the channel only to you.

sanjaya said...

@Isuru

ohh...is it true? ..so it is better than we comment in this blog.

Lisura said...


If you want TEN CRICKET which channel do you want to remove ?

Isuru said...

@ Lisura,
CCTV News
TH TV
Zee Cinema
Citi Hits
Aarti TV
Rana Roo
these are not perform well.

sanjaya said...

we haven't any idea about cctv,th tv,arti tv,rana roo.pls remove one
of these channels .This should be my last comment.

Isuru said...

@Sanjaya
I think it's better we must leave this jockers blog bcoz they need us for their fun.
These people do not know enything. They are playing with their FUTURE.
Unless they make an effort to hear us we should leave them.

Dear DTV we are ready to say GOODBYE to you...!

Unknown said...

good bye DTV.......

i got dish tv.....

Isuru said...

@Neel
Could you send me an email about Dish TV and their charges.
Thanx.
(077isuru@gmail.com)

Mario said...

According to Dialog 2009 annual report, DTV had 150,000 connections, which made 83% of the pay tv market in Sri Lanka.

Unknown said...

Sri Lanka is a country which has around 3.5 million households. Based on Dialog’s annual report, we can identify that all the subscribers combined has been proving around 181,000 connections. This indicates that pay TV penetration, irrespective of the mode is 5%. There is a potential market of 95% which is pending. Thus, the market opportunity is tremendous. However, the market cannot be captured using low cost legacy systems and methods. DTV is just trying to do this impossible.
DTV has a MPEG2 system and on average the picture quality is low. The poor picture quality is visible on 21” CRTs keeping apart the new wide screen HDTVs. DTV cannot serve the increasing base of new wide screen TVs with this picture quality. However, little they realize that the 5% who has purchased pay TV are the first to buy these new TVs in the light that the prices have come down drastically due to industry scaling and changed tax regime. With the purchase of new TVs these customers will move away from DTV and buy another service which offers better picture quality.
The nearest option is PeoTV which offers enhanced definition TV (EDTV) picture quality which is just few steps below HDTV (HDTV ready and full HDTV – rarely any difference is visible between these aspects). Usually the TVs themselves do a good job in up calling the pictures to HD quality. Thus, PeoTV does not have to do much marketing in this environment; DTV is doing enough.
However, PeoTV has its own downfalls too. They do not introduce channels proactively and they have limitations in the ability to provide services. SLT unlike most of the other progressive companies do not aggressively upgrade their network to next generation levels too. This limits their ability to give HDTV services in the future as well.
In the light of Airtel is already here and Tata is eying Suntel, it is just a matter of them importing a set of decoders and provide cheap pay TV here and DTV knows this. It looks as if they do not know what to do so they will wait and sell their Pay TV service to somebody in the future. SLT will keep IPTV and be happy about it rather than utilizing it to make profits. Dish TV is also already here and we see a lot of people purchase these services. The Indian DTH services offer HDTV services while DTV is way behind on the technology aspect (it is them who called themselves the technology leaders few years back).
So competition is in and DTV has to use technology, not few bloggers who may be in their paylist to improve the services. It is not up to the public to advice on how to improve DTV. They will make their profits out of our expense and the management of the company is paid for that purpose. The management is so blind to the industry facts that they will not listen to us anyway. Definitely Indian pay TV invasion is here and it will destroy SL pay TV market and there is no doubt. But in the process it will provide customers with value and new features. For us customers that’s what matters. At this rate after five years DTV and PeoTV blogs will be no more and I believe it is good riddance too!

SLP said...

Ok guys heard your conversation from the begining and thought to expose my experience in all.


In all Indian DTH the consumers are multi language and multi culture. Therefore most of the channels provided at Indian DTH is just plain garbage.

As per SL point of view, DTV lacks of Star Gold, Fx, WB, CH V, Ten Cricket, Set-Pix, Disney-X, FTV, Gemini-x, Raj-x, Sun-x, Star-1, Sahara Filmy, MGM, 10Action+ and DWTV where all or most of these channels are given in any Indian DTH. From it Few channels are good for all consumers like WB and majority of them is popular with hindi addicts.

In the other hand DTV has All and Full HBO, Star Movies asia, Diva, KidsCo, and certain other premium channels.

Having considered both Indian DTH below LKR1000 and DTV at its premium package not more than 1500 is both reasonable and attainable to consumers and DTH operators.

As the fact, I conclude DTV is overpriced its contents for about LKR600 at least and this is plainly black night profit.

Analog, Digital, DVB-S, DVB-T
If you all are been with news sources, you might got the fact that secretary of Media confirms that Sri Lanka is out of Broadcasting license and no new license will be issued...

As such, Now its under basic development, for digital terrestrial transmission and it shall start in 2012. Accordingly, The DTH services will be available at cheap rates and there are possibilities that new DTH providers solely using terrestrial broadcasting shall arise then.

By then operational cost shall be reduced and dialog shall receive its worst enemies in the best grounds of they have-"The all island coverage".

Therefore attaining more satellite capacity wont make best efforts and having more local coverage may be the best choice for dialog.

Therefore its most unlikely that they are going to a new TP with above and with financial status, So what you have is what you get. If they need to improve the system then they have to use MP4.

SLP said...

Channel Valuation
As anyone familiar with wholesale and retail services, yet i'm not assured but I believe that Content providers will charge dialog on number of customers basis only and not for a channel premium.

I.e If one channel has one customer only, then they charge 30 LKR from dialog, and if they have 1000 Customers then they charge 30,000LKR as a whole, not like paying 10,000 LKR premium and can distribute to 1 or 10000 peoples as DTV like.

Anyhow, with the increase of customer per channel, Dialog may receive wholesale price. As above example even though per head cost is 30LKR, if 1000Customers then at wholesale price at discounted 25,000LKR and not 30,000LKR as above.

Thereby Dialog receives good amount from channels and the only overhead is TP cost.

Secondly, as along with naushad's figures of 150,000 DTV customers, They already may have 30,000 MP4 receivers and only 120,000 Consumers may have to be converted.

But along with service expansion there are positive possibility that they have to replace 500,000 decoders in a later transfer from MP2 to MP4. Therefore DTV I suppose you should be hurry in this.

Again, once the pricing of 2,200LKR what their excuse was operational cost and USD appreciation. By contrast USD were 120LKR at that time and now its 105LKR at prime rate with 111.70 for general purpose. There by they will receive additional 8 Rupees per dollar by now and at contrast they can price down to 2000 LKR with the current rupee appreciation. This shall further reduce at the current exchange rate to 1800 without any significant loss.

So people dialog now receives almost 400 Rupees per exchange conversion with rupee appreciation by now.

SLP said...

What is happening?
Its plainly simple. They are doing their job just like they did in GSM.

If anyone remember the past, It was dialog the culprit behind incoming call charges on any network, where all GSM operators willing to nullify incoming call cost, Dilog made their intention that they cant and that's why the incoming were charged until a recent.

Secondly even all mobile operators are giving service at reasonable price dialog yet is not. They still using the SKIM PRICE strategy, where consumer in contrast robs.

So what I can conclude since consumers do not have many options, and if their intention is not primely on Local TV and Movies, Then Indian DTH is the best.

And if so, Then for the moment no other options I guess, Peo-TV is a close runner and yet to catch DTV. But If the country converted to digital or if Airtel starts DTH (Both are highly unlikely yet, but one thing is no dream impossible, secondly no DTH operators will go live on sat capacity in SL as now the DTV is plainly well established) then dialog TV becomes Dialog GSM in front of the all Mobitel to Etisalat.

Only thing is when? but having THTV on board please be mind that government will at the back of DTV and they do not need anything new all of a sudden.

So my conclude is its upto you guys to decide which DTH is best to you. Dialog and again other Local DTH with Indian DTH, all have their own plus and minuses. You need to tolerate whats suits you best.

And if anyone interested in anything other than dialog, Then its their choice. No one will be capable or allowed to tell that either it wont or it should not be posted in this blog.

Both dialog need to see its mistakes and they can correct it if they will. And consumers also need to know what are their options and the limits that they are in.

So don't post anything that if someone promoting or expressing any ideas about other DTH services. Interested parties will do whatever they need, and if some one not then they will plainly ignore that posts....

Unknown said...

Dear isuru,

Dish tv rentl is full package 1100/=....

Lisura said...

@ Neel

To where do you pay the rentals ?

Send me the contact to dialogtv@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

For the Secondary Connection what is the Monthly Package Rental??? Is it the same as the Primary Connection???

Lisura said...

As far as I know for the secondary connection only the installation charges are less.

The package cost will be the same.

http://www.dialog.lk/personal/tv/packages/connection-details/

Nokia said...

@ Podiman

For the second connection you will only have to pay for a new decorder. Which is somere around 7000 or 8000 and you will be billed for another conection depending on the package you select for the 2nd line

ridma said...

why late add ten cricket.it is big problem.south africa & zimbabwe tour live action missed dtv customer.it is very very big problem.peo tv & lbn add ten criket.why late.please removed TH TV,CCTV,ETV.plz add ten cricket.next month sri lanka & west indies tour live action ten cricket.

sanjaya said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Isuru said...

hey neel thanx boy. I found some updates from them.thanx again.

sanjaya said...

please doing something for your valued customers.They are still hopefully...

nilu said...

they don't do anything for value customers.MY DTV is slow to move channel due to recent update they carryout.

Unknown said...

It was very sad to see that there was not a single dedicated channel to telecast the Commonwealth games on Dialog Tv. Channel Eye the so called 'sports' channel as usual gave the viewers incomplete and unsatisfactory coverage of the event with their regular tamil programs. It was agonising to see that the Weightlifting event where our own Chintana Withanage participated when they suddenly interrupted the live coverage to show a regular tamil program.

Dooradarshan Sports gave a complete coverage of the event and all of us were deprived of watching the event since Dialog TV do not have that channel in their line up.

Since DD sports is the channel which broadcat the main sporting events such as the Olympics, The Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games it's a must that at least now Dialog tv authorities to introduce that channel in near future..

Lisura said...



All DD channels are free-to-air. You can watch CWG in full HD without paying a cent to anyone.

DD HD gives 24-coverage of CWG in High definition !

DD Sports also gives live content but most of games which India play.

DD National carries all the finals live !

DD Bharathi shows all track and field events.

All these and much much more you can watch FREE !!!! on DD Direct +

Chandika Gunawardhana said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chandika Gunawardhana said...

Still no Ten Cricket.
South Africa vs. Zimbabwe series is live on Ten Cricket.

nilu said...

I contact dialog service, this what they have say

"we are sorry to inform you that we are unable to specify an exact date. However, if the said channel is launched, we would notify all the Dialog TV subscribers? via the media. Please bear with us, until such time"

::DINESH:: said...

hi guys,

is there any decoder that doesn't display ugly "DTV" logo...?

Unknown said...

There is no transpondent space to add any new channels. Only thing what Dialog TV can do is replace. That won't be easy too as they must be having contracts with the channels.

::DINESH:: said...

hi guys..

I need your help..

where can I buy a decorder to watch DTV channels without their ugly logo.. is it even possible...?

Please let me know..

Thanks in advance..

Nokia said...

@ Dinesh
I dont think you can have a decorder with the Dialog Logo.

But if there is a decorder without the new software update, then I think you dont get the logo.

Do you do recording on dialog tv programs?

nilu said...

What channel goona telecast Sri lanka Vs. Australia matches. any idea ?.

if it is ten cricket, then it will be .........

Lisura said...

I think it will be on Star Cricket as they are the ones who telecast cricket matches from Australia.

Not sure !

Nalin Kiing said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nalin Kiing said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nalin Kiing said...

BREAKING NEWS...

TELEDASUN (LBN)has been reached Jaffna peninsula and in the same time Negombo city too. Also they are gearing up to be the first introducer of HD channels to Sri Lanka....

Mario said...

SL vs AUS series will be on STAR CRICKET.

Lisura said...

Since LBN do not have a restriction of bandwidth like DTV they can do wonders. I watched their digital connection in one of my friends house. Even on a 52 inch TV the picture quality is superb !

DTV pixelisation is visible now even on a 21 inch CRT

Welldone LBN ! At the same time please try to expand beyond Nawala in Colombo. cause those areas are highly residential and you will have a good market against expensive Dialog TV.

Expand to Nugegoda, Mirihana, Pitakotte areas.

Chandika Gunawardhana said...

Still no Ten Cricket. South Africa Vs. Zimbabwe 3rd ODI is live on Ten Cricket (http://www.crictime.com/live-cricket-streaming.htm). Also South Africa Vs. Pakistan series will be live on Ten Cricket.

Nalin Kiing said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nalin Kiing said...

Lisura,

I think you should contact Mr.Bimal Fernando who is the Head of Operations of the Teledasun (LBN). I guess he can give a solution regarding Nawala, Mirihana & Nugegoda coverage, specially your home area.(This is just my two cents thinking)Please contact the following number and let us know the Mr.Bimal's response regarding your matter. Cheers.... 071-4300903

Mario said...

BREAKING NEWS......

DTV will be swapping TEN SPORTS with TEN CRICKET during important matches.

It will start with SA vs PAK series live from Abu Dhabi today. T20 is scheluded to @ 21.30.

According to DTV management, this a temp measure as they are still sorting out some technical issues ( must be still wondering what channels to remove ), anyways at least we get to watch the matches.

TV & Radio Sri Lanka said...

Please keep us updated on the latest post titled "Stupid Move - swapping Ten Sports for Ten Cricket".

Admin