A demand for a better MTV

In the light of recent events, specially with the temporary ousting of MTV India, there are now renewed calls being made requesting Dialog TV to switch to a better feed of the channel upon it's return. The only alternative feed that comes to mind now is "MTV Asia" or maybe a switch to a channel such as "Channel V International" is required. 

This comes in the midst of mounting frustration among Dialog TV subscribers about the significant number of Hindi channels on a DTH service provider that doesn't concentrate on the Indian market. MTV should be returned as MTV Asia or an international version and the wasted blank slot can be used for this purpose.

It's very surprising and sad to note that DTV haven't added the rates for activating individual channels in the HD package to their website. This leaves out many people on the premiere package not knowing about this facility who haven't subscribed to the HD package & haven't activated any channel individually. We hope DTV takes necessary steps and carries out the updates required. A bit of promotion using their social media team over facebook and twitter would at least mean that more of their subscribers will be aware of this option.

It's time for Dialog TV to move forward with the MPEG4 conversion now since mostly all premiere package subscribers now using the new MPEG4 DVB-S2 decoder.

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

MTV India replaced by Eurosport

In the ever continuing game of Dialog TV musical chairs. Dialog TV have replaced MTV India with Eurosport. It should be stated that since MTV India is the only proper music channel on the platform, the move is perceived to be rather controversial and is not being received well by subscribers.

Having said that Eurosport which was replaced several days ago has made a return to the platform in couple of days to the delight of sports fans, this is largely owing to the constant bombardment of Dialog TV hotlines by subscribers. It's a very well known fact that sports channel subscribers outnumber any other category on Dialog TV.

We hope that Dialog TV return MTV to the platform possibly to the blank channel slot which is still unused and is a waste of resources. Hopefully it will return not as MTV India but a better version which caters to the tastes of international audiences.

We commend Dialog TV for returning Eurosport quickly to the platform but sadly it's at the expense of another channel. We hope that the MPEG4 switch over is carried out a.s.a.p to facilitate better use of Dialog TV transponders by increasing channel capacity.

In other news Shradda TV was added to the Dialog TV platform today. This channel occupies the slot formerly occupied by Eurosport.

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

Eurosport & HD pack single channel offerings

Well let's start with the good news first, as of last night Dialog TV have started offering the channels on the HD pack as single channel offerings. This means that those who are in possession of the new HD enabled decoder can activate a few channels of their choice. Those who don't own a HD enabled TV can now activate the SD bonus channels on the HD pack list. We believe that Dialog have now completed the switch  over of all premiere package subscribers to the new HD decoder. We hope Dialog takes steps to switch a few other packages too, so that the switch to MPEG4 broadcasting can be carried out.

Given below are the channels and the rates associated with them. It is our opinion that certain non HD channels should have been placed in the Rs 49/= category & certain HD channels should have been placed in the Rs 99/= category.

AXN HD - Rs 149/= + Tax
Nat Geo HD - Rs 149/= + Tax
Discovery HD World - Rs 149/= + Tax
ESPN HD - Rs 199/= + Tax
Star Movies HD - Rs 199/= + Tax

Fashion TV - Rs 99/= + Tax
Comedy Central - Rs 99/= + Tax
History Channel - Rs 99/= + Tax
Ten Action - Rs 99/= + Tax

In other news this new "offering" hasn't taken away the displeasure caused to sporting fans about the removal of "Eurosports". This so called temporary replacement is one of the worst ever decisions made by Dialog TV. Shradda TV should have been moved to the empty channel slot, it was totally unnecessary to replace Eurosports.

We hope that the "temporary" removal is not made "permanent". Usually when it comes to Dialog TV, most temporary moves are usually permanent in nature.

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

Very bad move... Eurosports being replaced by Shradda

Dialog is shooting itself in the foot by removing a non cricket centric channel that focuses on sporting events that the subcontinent based sports channels don't focus on June 21st. Eurosports telecasts all major cycling events, Rally championships, Athletics, Marathons, Winter sports & 24hr Le-man races to name a few. These sporting events are not too popular in a country such as India which is why the Indian based sporting channels don't telecast it, but Sri Lanka is not India and these sports enjoy a significant following which is why Eurosports should be retained.

Eurosports along with Setanta Sports are the only two non-Indian feed sports channels and whilst Setanta focuses mainly on Rugby (another sport not heavily promoted by India based channels), Eurosports on the other hand telecasts many different sporting events.

What defies is logic is that a channel is being replaced when "Dialog Test Channel - Channel 71" is totally being wasted and could be used for Shradda TV. When Dialog started time sharing between GodTV/EWTN the excuse was that they don't want to waste another slot for a religious channel - this was also done at a time Channel 71 was being wasted - & claiming that both channels were similar and targeted a similar group. Then under Dialog's argument and in the name of equality of religion, Dialog TV should time share between Buddhist TV & Shradda TV. Dialog TV management is openly declaring their religious bias. If Shradda TV is to occupy a separate channel slot then God TV & EWTN should also be split and be given two separate slots. Dialog is about to stir a hornet's nest and it's going to sting quite badly.

If there are enough channel slots to be spared then nobody would bother & if Eurosports was being replaced by another BETTER sports channel this move would have been less controversial - we have long advocated that channel replacements are a big NO, NO.

If Dialog really wants to add "Shradda TV" then add it to Channel 71, but in due course you will have to split God TV & EWTN into two different channel slots, just to make sure the management is not being religiously biased and there is equality of religion.

Yesterday was a dark day for sporting fans on Dialog TV, they have been unfairly targeted by corporate greed. We urge them to call the hotline and urge the management to halt the replacement plan. Leave Eurosports alone, in fact leave all the channels alone, add Shradda TV to the test channel number 71 if you really must. Sometimes we wonder who is having this dog-in-the-manger attitude when it comes to  channel number 71 and causing this wastage of resources.

If Dialog TV is capable of targeting a non-Indian feed international sports channel then nothing else is beyond their grasp, sports based subscribers account for a major portion of pay television subscribers in the island and targeting them will only prove detrimental to Dialog TV.

Dialog TV is calling this replacement "temporary", but we know from experience that many "temporary" things become "permanent" on Dialog TV & is only an excuse that is used for them to have their way.

Please keep us updated on the latest on Dialog TV as the days progress.... Those of you who will be using social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to campaign on behalf of Eurosports please use the "#DTVretainEUROSPORT" hashtag when posting.

LEAVE EUROSPORTS ALONE - DO NOT REPLACE IT.

Eurosports to be replaced...

Dialog does it again, the sports channel Eurosports that transmits many non-cricketing action such as Tennis, Cycling, Winter Sports is being replaced by a yet unnamed channel come Friday,June 21st 2013.

The channel that will be added in favour of Eurosports is not known as yet, but it will likely be a sports channel, probably Star Sports 2, Sony Six or even worse DD Sports. Who knows it could be Ten Golf.

Eurosports is known for telecasting sports that are not usually telecast in this nation by big names such as Star & Ten.

Therefore the removal of Eurosports will be a blow for fans of cycling, tennis & winter sports. We are hoping that Dialog TV will reconsider this move.

Dialog's obsession with replacing channels is very evident with this move.

Dialog granted approval to offer individual channels in the HD pack

According to information being received, Dialog TV has been granted approval by the TRC to issue the channels on the HD pack on an individual basis. Please refer the following link for TRC/DTV/Promo/13/01.

According to the said document, it seems that the present HD pack will be available without the bonus channels for Rs 690/= exclusive of taxes. While the individual HD channels will be available at Rs 149/= per channel exclusive of taxes except for Star Movies HD & ESPN HD priced at Rs 199/= per channel. In addition the channels presently termed as "bonus channels" will be available at Rs 99/= per channel exclusive of taxes.

This option to add the SD channels on the HD pack will mean that those who don't posses HD enabled TV's & received the HD decoder as part of the free upgrade offered to premiere package subscribers will be able to subscribe to these channels on an individual basis.

The rate for channels only with the 5 HD channels is too much at Rs 690/= and we believe that it should be priced lower. It is likely that given the option those who posses HD televisions will be better off paying Rs 990/= for the HD channels and the individual channels together.

It is indeed a good move by Dialog TV if they are able to release the non-HD individual channels to subscribers at an additional cost. However a sachet cost of Rs 49/= would have been better received than Rs 99/=.

This tariff was approved back in April, we hope Dialog TV will take quick steps to officially implement this tariff structure. A probable reason for the delay could be because Dialog TV maybe still replacing premiere package subscribers decoders. Hopefully this new tariff is introduced soon.

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

Ad's to be reduced on Indian feeds of channels

Those of you who are sick of the advertisements carried on the Indian feeds of International channels over all  the pay television operators in Sri Lanka can rejoice at a recent ruling that has placed an ad cap on channels commencing next month.

As per the new regulations, advertisements on Indian feeds of channels will not 20 min per hour for news channels and 16 min for GEC's (General Entertainment Channels) from July 1st 2013.

The regulations further state that from October 1st 2013 advertisements for GEC's & news channels cannot exceed 12 min per hour.

This only applies for Indian feeds of channels being received into Sri Lanka, most of the other feeds that originate outside Indian such as those from Singapore are more or less commercial free for the most part.

Source : Broadcasters finally accept Trai's 12 minute ad cap mandate