CCTV 9 ??????

According to rumors reaching us Dialog TV seems to be planning to launch CCTV 9, the English Language channel of CCTV which is china's state run broadcaster. If Dialog keep this going then they will have more FTA channels on their lineup than pay channels. There are more priority channels such as AXN Beyond, SET Asia, ect which could be part of the lineup but that does not seem to be happening.

It looks like CCTV 9 will take the spot vacated by Nat Geo Wild or replace Siyatha TV.

In the midst of all this they keep increasing rentals and add FTA channels. The business logic is totally haywire. Even the MPEG4 conversion which was due to take place in 2008 does not seem to take place.

We hope the management of Dialog TV take steps to immediately sort these things out otherwise the future does not look too bright.

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

Another dumb move! NKH World now on air....

We are getting reports that Dialog TV have replaced the former Fox FX channel slot with "NHK World". Whilst we said that there are better channels than Fox FX available, the replacement channel is far worse. We already have more than enough news channels on Dialog TV and "Channel News Asia" would have been a better replacement if Dialog TV wanted to add an extra news channel.

Dialog TV should have added either "AXN Beyond" or "SET English" as the replacement for Fox FX. Now it is certain that the "Nat Geo Wild" slot will be replaced too. Lets hope that it will not be an Indian masala channel or some worthless channel. Dialog should replace it with one of the channels that we have been urging them to add.

We urge Dialog TV to remove the free to air "NHK World" and replace it with a worthwhile channel. We trust that the subscribers will urge Dialog TV to carry out the replacement.

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

Is Dialog TV planning a move from DVB-S to DTT?

Reports circulating the internet indicate a press release from swedish based Net Insight about an order from Dialog Telekom for a DTT network. DTT which stands for Digital Terrestrial Network is a popular and cheaper broadcasting method than the satellite method used by Dialog TV. Intially according to the press release there will be one headend and four transmitters thereafter it will two additional phases of expansion for a nation wide DTT network.

On this platform Dialog can include IPTV type services on a wireless platform. Dialog may operate on the satellite and terrestrial platform and after the national wide coverage is achieved they can migrate existing customers onto the new platform and switch off the satellite network. The DTT platform will enable Dialog TV to offer new interactive service's with it's IPTV base and also add more channels with reduced distribution cost as the money spent on satellite transponder leasing will not exist.

This is just our assumption and we have no confirmation from Dialog TV or any other source. Another point of view is that it just maybe that Dialog TV will operate the DTT platform to carry local channels on the digital platform. However it is likely that with the increased cost for satellite transponders Dialog maybe having an idea of switch their pay television operations to the DTT network based on its successful rollout. Dialog may also be looking at providing Mobile TV for phones equipped with DVB-M receivers.

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

Web Link : Net Insight receives DTT network order from Dialog Telekom

FX and Nat Geo Wild dropped

It seems that FX and Nat Geo Wild that were on trial until end of December 2009, have been dropped. Well these two channels were not very popular anyway but we hope Dialog retains them for the sake of the people who watch them. If Dialog wants to replace these channels then they should add AXN Beyond and SET English Asia or Sci Fi channel Asia and Universal Asia. Please do not fill the slot with cheap indian crap. We hope the replacement is carried out soon. Posted via Yahoo Mobile. Please keep us updated on the latest on Dialog TV as the days progress.

New Year Greetings.... FX & Nat Geo Wild

It seems that the free offer for Fox FX and Nat Geo Wild have ended. Several subscribers are having their Nat Geo Wild and Fox FX channels scrambled. We believe that the channels will continue to be available on the Top Package but all other packages will have them scrambled. Still there is uncertainty on how these channels will be allocated to other packages, but we believe that they will be available via Set Plans. So far the Set Plan rates have not been published as yet. We hope that Dialog considers allocating these channels free of charge for a few other packages too.

We now take this opportunity to wish the Management & Staff of Dialog, our fellow bloggers and Dialog TV Subscribers Unite a "Very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2010". We thank you for your contribution towards making this blog a wonderful success and for continuing to update this blog with the latest news and we hope that you will be with us throughout the coming year as well.

EWTN removed God TV returns

In the midst of all the commotion today in the light of God TV being removed and EWTN being introduced, Dialog have being pressured by their subscribers and God TV is now back on air.

It was a dumb decision by Dialog to remove God TV. If Dialog wants to introduce EWTN then they should add it as a separate channel. LBN carries both God TV and EWTN, Dialog could follow the same path. It is quite understandable that the Catholic population may want EWTN as it is the global channel for the Roman Catholic church. But removing God TV and adding this channel IS NOT THE WAY TO DO THINGS.

God TV is popular among Christians who are non Catholics and EWTN would be popular among Catholics.

Many Christians have purchased the connection to watch "God TV" just like many Buddhists have purchased Dialog TV to watch "Buddhist TV". So it would be tremendously unfair by them to remove this channel. We hope Dialog TV does not take rash decisions like this in the future.

If only a certain percentage of Dialog TV subscribers watch God TV, they are still subscribers and it is extremely unethical of Dialog to remove the channel after all they still pay the same rental as the rest.

If Dialog TV is to add/remove channels according to which is viewed by a majority of the population or majority of their subscribers then Dialog is adopting the wrong business model for a pay television operator. If this is the case then there are other channels that could be dropped before Dialog drops God TV. Dialog should cater to each and every subscriber regardless of whether they are in the majority or minority as we said earlier the minority pays the same rental as the majority. If due to God TV being a FTA channel, is used as an excuse to say that people can buy a separate Dish and receiver to watch it then Dialog is basically loosing the opportunity of earning valuable revenue from subscription fees by enticing these customers to either upgrade to higher packages or getting paid for a bunch of FTA channels.

If there are people who dislike God TV then they can request and get it deactivated but the channel is only available on request, so by default God TV is scrambled for all connections.

Dialog have been taking a lot of wrong decisions over the last few months, the sudden increase of rental is another example, we can confirm that many are contemplating moving to PEO TV or LBN due to the rise in rental. MPEG4 conversion is delayed, when subscribers complain about pixelation or request for additional new channels to customer care they call it lack of bandwidth due to transponder space but mysteriously local channels are squeezed onto the platform. So if space can be made for local channels we are sure Dialog TV can squeeze EWTN also onto the platform without removing God TV.

We hope Dialog TV management takes note of this matter and does not repeat it again. Today was supposed to be a "Very Merry Christmas" but Dialog TV decided to become "The Grinch" and tried to steal some subscribers of their Christmas.

Dialog TV stupid decision rules this christmas

Dialog TV has dropped God TV and is now testing EWTN. Dialog TV has subscribers who have bought the connection because of God TV. Dialog is asking subscribers to sms or email them on whether to retain EWTN. LBN has both God TV & EWTN and PEO TV has God TV so Dialog is sure to lose subscribers due to this move. If Dialog wants to add EWTN then they could allocate a seperate slot for the channel. EWTN caters only to catholics where as God TV is a channel for all christians. So intead of a channel that targets only a specific group, it is always better to have a general channel. However if Dialog feels that they should have EWTN then they should retain both channels