Looking back to 2015 & looking forward to 2016

Firstly we want to wish all of you a Happy & Prosperous New Year 2016 to all our fellow bloggers & the management & staff at Dialog TV. We also apologize for the lack of blog updates over the past several months. We have been busy but we are not making that an excuse & we assure you that we will revitalize this blog during the course of this year with your help of course.

Last year has been a very happening year for Dialog TV, It all started almost one year ago in February 2015 with the MPEG4 upgrade of the entire platform & the addition of new channels to most of the existing packages. Basically all packs received some channels in one form or the other. Competition also played a part in this. Channels such as Ten Golf, etc which we were charged for additionally were released to the packages by the end of the year. Towards the latter part of the year we saw the addition of Sony Channel Asia & Z Living which have been since allocated to the Gold package. 

However hopes of Fox Movies Premium or a quality movie channel were dashed when Dialog decided to add Sony Channel. All in all Dialog was most likely on Santa's Nice list last year.

Which brings us to the question, what will 2016 hold for Dialog TV? Well here is our 2 cents on this matter. Discovery Tamil which was under testing during December has vanished by the New Year. We believe it is still testing but is now scrambled for all. This means that either this month or the next this will too be added to the line up. Also there are a few blank slots & this we feel will be filled within the first quarter of this year. It's quite clear that even though the blank slots are within the channel spaces allocated for local channels it's not necessary that it will be a local channel that takes up that space. The addition of Z Living within the block allocated for local channels is a good example of this. A channel line up resorting of some sort either fully or partial may also be in the cards sometime this year after all empty slots are filled.

As for other plans, it's quite likely that Dialog might add some transponders soon with the intention of expanding their HD offerings. At present Dialog is very weak in that area & we are pretty sure that they will concentrate on it this year. Most high end users with HD televisions end up using Indian DTH platforms due to the numbers of HD Channels offered at a fraction of a cost compared to Dialog TV. Also we believe Dialog TV should drop the HD pack as a separate addition & merge it with the Gold pack. This will definitely increase the Dialog TV subscriber base. The Indian DTH's may be illegal but they are extremely prevalent in the market due to the HD offerings & the pricing differences.

Dialog TV is trying extremely hard to differentiate themselves from the others but the lack of HD comparitively seems to be their achilles heel. Well here's once again to a great 2016.

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

Dialog TV Set top box Software Update Available

As per reports reaching us a new Software Update is now available for Dialog TV Set Top boxes. We are not sure whether there are any visible improvements to the Set Top box functionality or whether the updates are mainly for internal processes.

In other news there has not been much happening on Dialog TV as in the way of filling up those blank test channels & no progress on adding a quality English movie channel. Sure enough HBO is a good movie channel in it's own right but there are some movies that don't premiere in it since the rights are held by Fox Movies Premium.

Looks like any further channel addition will happen after the RWC which is slated to conclude at the end of next month. Dialog will most likely target the festive season thereafter.

Sony KIX added

With effect from yesterday Dialog TV added Sony KIX to Channel No. 77 which was previously occupied by Setanta SD feed. As a result this channel is now available FOC for all Gold package subscribers.

Previously Gold package subscribers had to pay Rs 99 to watch Setanta, however the replacement Sony KIX has been made available on a FOC basis, however this is only because KIX is used as a Hindi language broadcaster when it comes to events such as IPL, etc. Anyone who wants to watch Setanta has to now subscribe to the HD feed which comes at Rs 149/=. However if you are a rugby fan & doesn't have the HD decoder then you are at a loss. 

In other new everyone is waiting with anticipation as when Dialog TV will add a quality movie channel to their line up.

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

RWC 2015

According to unconfirmed reports coming in Dialog TV will add Sony Kix within the next few days in order to broadcast the Rugby World Cup 2015. The broadcast right which have been purchased by Sony will cause both the sports channels Six & Kix to telecast the event. 

We are not sure whether Sony Kix will be added only for the duration of the tournament, however with all the football rights moving to Sony Kix, it's best to make Sony Kix a permanent addition.

Whether the channel will replace another or occupy one the free slots is not yet confirmed. Rumors indicate that the channel maybe exclusive to Dialog TV however making it exclusive isn't good for the industry.

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

AMC Asia replaces MGM Channel

As of midnight MGM Channel India which is ceasing transmissions has been replaced by AMC Asia which was formerly known as MGM Asia. Even though Dialog called it a rebrand it is actually a replacement. 

The channel telecasts older movies like MGM did in addition to some brand new programming from the AMC stable such as "Fear The Walking Dead" & "Into the Badlands", this network is behind the hit TV series "Breaking Bad" & has also acquired Global broadcasting rights for the UK Sci-fi series "Humans".

This channel is no doubt a great channel in comparison to the likes of Star World & Zee Cafe. AMC Asia is operated by AMC Networks Asia Pacific which also operates Sundance Channel Asia.

In other news there are reports that Dialog TV have removed Sony Six from the Pearl Pack & added channels such as Trace TV, CCM, Discovery Science, Outdoor Channel & Travel XP. however there is no confirmation of this from Dialog TV FB Page or it's web site.

For more information please keep us updated on the latest on Dialog TV as the days progress.

AMC Website: http://www.amctvasia.com/

Now MGM Channel to go

MGM Channel which was brought in by Dialog TV to replace Star Movies when it pulled out of this region will be discontinuing it's services during this month, probably by the end of the month. This leaves Dialog TV now looking for a replacement to the channel.

MGM which was renamed in most territories as AMC, retained the MGM branding in this region and are calling  it quits. The channel will not be undergoing any rebranding in this region & will cease transmissions. There has been no official statement from MGM regarding this.

Dialog TV which was in a limbo over the replacement of Star Movies, find themselves in deeper trouble. Either Dialog will have to come sort of agreement with Star Movies & reintroduce the channel or work with Fox International Channels to introduce Fox Movies Premium. One stumbling block over the retransmission of Fox Movies Premium initially was the broadcast of UFC for which regional rights were held by Sony Six. Now since UFC has been moved to Fox Sports, we believe that it probably would be easier to secure the channel however with HBO Asia securing second run rights for some of the movies premiered on Fox Movies Premium, there might still be a problem.

Also now Sony Six is acquiring rights for La Liga, FA Cup & Serie A football tournaments & this channel isn't available in this country. The channel will also be used to broadcast the SL vs India Cricket match in Hindi we believe but it also has some prime English content which will be missed. Dialog should secure this channel too.

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

Dialog's HD dilemma & solution

Recently Dialog TV have been sending SMS to Dialog TV subscribers offering the HD channels at special rates for a limited period of time. This comes hot on the heels of a free preview for HD channels which ended a week or so ago.

It seems that the adoption of the HD package among even those of the Gold package is low. It's a well known fact that those who really want the HD Channels are opting for the Indian DTH services where they offer a higher number of HD channels at almost half the prices offered by Dialog TV for the Gold package which doesn't have HD as standard.

Even though Dialog introduced HD several years ago they haven't been exactly been able to make inroads to the HD market. Most of the HD Channels are the same provided by the Indian operators except in the case of AXN HD & Setanta HD. Dialog doesn't have a dedicated HD movie channel now after the pull out of Star Movies HD. Many have been requesting for Fox Movies Premium but it does not look like that will ever materialize. Star World Premiere was a good addition but regional rights have been affecting the programming, however it's a channel that should be retained.

To solve Dialog's HD dilemma we propose that they add the HD channels to the Gold package FOC, this would prove to be a incentive to attract subscribers to the Gold package, in addition they will be able to better attract those who opt for Indian services. If this situation goes unchecked the Indian services will gain a strong foothold on the HD market in Sri Lanka.

The ball is in Dialog's court now, will they opt for making a short term profit or for benefiting in the long run

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