With yesterday's update Dialog TV have increased the number of channels allocated to subscribers. Gold package subscribers are now getting "Comedy Central, Fashion TV & History TV18" FOC which was available earlier at an additional charge. Additionally "Ten Action" has been allocated to all available packages except for the old CBNsat era packages.
Quality has improved in the MPEG4 transponders. At the moment Dialog TV is running 3 MPEG2 DVB-S1 transponders, 1 MPEG4 DVB-S1 transponder & 2 MPEG4 DVB-S2 transponder. The conversion of an additional transponder has given additional capacity for Dialog TV to add a few extra channels. However more capacity will be available if and when Dialog TV converts the other 3 MPEG2 transponders too, this is not expected any time soon considering the time taken to convert just one.
There are some complaints about the quality of the Ten Network channels since they happen to get more pixelated compared to the other sports channels which are on the MPEG4 transponders, "Ten Action" quality is supposed worst out of all the Ten Network channels. We hope this matter is rectified by increasing bandwidth allocated to those three channels.
At the moment the Test channels comprises of the following,
- Test 1 - MTV Sports
- Test 2 - CITI HITz (not sure if this channel is a good idea, it was a flop a few years ago)
- Test 3 - MTV India
- Test 4 - Cine Thirai (Tamil)
- Test 5 - Sony Six
- Test 6 - Sundance Channel
- Test 7 - Universal Channel
- Test 8 - E channel (good for those interested in Hollywood gossip, not sure it will last)
It's great to note that Dialog TV have added an additional Tamil Channel instead of a Hindi one, the addition of Sony Six is a good move considering that NBA, TNA & FIFA action is now on that channel & Dialog TV, Sundance might be popular among those who seek foreign language programming (this channel is operated by the same people who do the Sundance Film Festival). Universal Channel has a few reruns but could improve like Warner TV has been doing over the past year or so, "E" is mainly a hollywood gossip channel and it will be interesting to see how that channel will be received. If any channel from this list get booted for a better one, the most likely candidate would be "E".
Not forgetting to mention, the quality of the only only sole local English Language channel is horrible and is worse that normal FTA reception, this needs to be rectified ASAP.
It's not clear how the above channels will be allocated, whether they will be added to existing packages or will be available as additional add-ons isn't clear. However with the impending competition, it's best that Dialog will add these to existing packages. It's worth mentioning that these new channels haven't been officially launched as yet, hence the "Test" status.
Please continue updating us on the latest on Dialog TV as the days progress.
** Updated at 11am - corrected errors in post
** Updated at 11am - corrected errors in post
- Dialog has five transponders not four as posted earlier (3 MPEG2, 2 MPEG4)
