Time for more action Dialog TV

Now that the PVR prices have been reduced it is time for Dialog TV to move ahead with some new channel additions which are way overdue. This time though not by removing existing channels but by adding a new transponder or by moving to MPEG4 to make room for the new channels. Although we don't mind if local FTA channels such as CSN which have island wide coverage are taken off, maybe in our fantasies.

This doesn't mean adding local FTA channels like Sirasa, Channel One MTV, Shakthi TV or any other rather we are referring to international channels. With "History Channel" reentering this region & Ten Action being a popular request among subscribers & with Dialog TV lagging behind in introducing channels such as Sci Fi, AXN Beyond, Disney Channels, etc its time for Dialog to play catch up.

In addition Dialog should make more channels available on their PVR since the list of channels on the PVR (even though a few notable channels are present) is just a small percentage of their total list. We are also unable to understand why non of the local FTA channels with the exception of TNL TV are not available on the PVR list. Local FTA channel content can be recorded by anyone with an old VCR & this PVR recording system is more secure, so why they haven't given permission is a mystery.

It's time to allow subscribers to activate or schedule recording by online requests or by sending a SMS. Additionally an online portal is a must similar to MyDialog or integrated into MyDialog to manage channel subscriptions & to enable or disable channels remotely by parents who want to control what their children watch when they are alone at home. We hope Dialog TV will take steps to implement these in the very near future and expand channel offerings on their platform.

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

Locally inserted advertising going out of control

When Dialog stated that they were going to insert advertisements into some of their pay channels we made it very clear on this blog that those ads shouldn't in anyway affect the way the user experiences Dialog TV because Dialog is not FTA & subscribers are paying to watch it. However it seems that Dialog TV are doing exactly what we told them not to. The problem has worsened during the Sri Lanka, Australia cricket series on Ten Cricket.

The insertion of ads & crawlers are adversely affecting & having a negative affect on the viewer.

We are told that a subscriber called to complain & the highly intelligent aka Genius customer care executive said that they are not inserting the ads rather the advertising agency does. Really, does the advertising agency force itself into Dialog & insert advertisements by force? What an excuse & only a fool will think that a subscriber will believe this lie.

Dialog have obviously got greedy & are now trying to earn the maximum out of advertising just like any FTA channel would do and this will definitely have a negative effect on Dialog TV.

We are not asking Dialog TV to stop running local advertisements but to do it in way that it will not affect the viewing experience, but if they cannot maintain that standard then they should stop the advertising. So since the damage has already been done now, then the option is to immediately stop all such advertising for this cricket series.

We urge Dialog TV subscribers to call Dialog TV on their hotline & Taj Television Sri Lanka (the local branch of the company that operates Ten Sports/Ten Cricket) on 0112351351 (ext 104) & speak to Upekha Abeykoon or any other individual within the company or email them to upekha@tensports.com & urge them to instruct Dialog TV to halt all local advertising. Vanguard Management Services is the company that sells Dialog TV advertising space to customers & you can call them on 0114614333 & urge them to halt all advertising sales. Furthermore you call the adverising departments of the corporations carrying out the advertising too & urge them halt advertising on Dialog TV.

Unlike FTA channels Dialog TV cannot swamp any channel specially Ten Cricket during a series involving Sri Lanka with advertising & negatively impact the viewer after all the viewer pays to watch without any interruption, if not the viewer would have stuck to Channel Eye without paying additional money to Dialog TV.

PVR Rental reduced

As expected Dialog TV have reduced the rental for the PVR feature. This is a great move as they are now better positioned to market the service & have put the service within the reach of their subscribers. Although all of the channels on Dialog are not available for recording the number of channels available have increased from the channels available for recording at the initial launch of the PVR feature.

It is surprising to note that out of the local FTA channels none are available except for TNL on the PVR. Except for Euro Sports & Setanta Sports all other sports channels can be recorded.

This is indeed a positive move by Dialog and we believe that as soon as word spreads about the reduction of rental, we believe that there will be a positive response from subscribers who didn't subscribe to the service before due to the high rental.

Please keep us updated on the latest on Dialog TV as the days progress and on your PVR experience for those who have subscribed for the service.

Dialog TV adopts high handed tactics with Setanta

As rumored previously Dialog TV have decided to make Setanta Sports an "add on" channel for all packages. Even Gold package subscribers have to pay Rs 99/= plus taxes in order to view this channel, a move that is seen as extremely unfair since Setanta is a FTA channel & can be watched by anyone with a regular Dish antenna & is also available FTA over CSN at certain times.

Dialog is in no doubt a position to sell their connections to hard core rugby fans in the country. The last time Dialog tried this was with Discovery Turbo & Discovery Science which was grossly overpriced at Rs 150/= per channel, therefore after a period of a few months Dialog added the channels FOC to the Gold Package.

We believe that "Setanta" is overpriced at Rs 99/= and should be revised to Rs 49/=, in addition it should be added FOC to the "Gold" package, we believe that many will refrain from activating the channel with the exception of the few hard core rugby fans who are on Dialog TV.

If Dialog is able to add this channel to the "Gold" package FOC then they are well placed to promote their connection together with the Gold package as the default package to the hard core rugby fans. They will also be able to lure existing subscribers to upgrade to the "Gold" package.

Well in due time we will know whether Dialog succeed with this tactic or whether whether they are forced to add it FOC to the "Gold" package once again.

With many subscribers now demanding the addition of "Ten Action" which has secured the rights for most of all the European club football action including the UEFA League, it is no doubt that Dialog TV must add it at the expense of an existing channel, hopefully "CSN" which is reportedly going island wide on FTA. But whether "Ten Action" would equate to an additional Rs 99/= is the question at the moment.

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