Image source: http://www.indiantelevision.com/images24/dth.jpg
It is an evident pattern in the consumer market that the most important products or services which seem to have ticked off a revolution are the products with the hype that they are only available for the selected few. Starting off with Television in the 70s, Personal Computers in the early 90s & the mobile phones in the later 90s. DTH seems to be the new entrant to this long line of successful endeavors. An elitist product a few years ago, DTH has made its presence felt in almost all the households.
Television has been the easiest and most affordable means of entertainment to the middle class, which constitute a huge part of our economy. The cable network has enjoyed a huge monopoly in this space for so many years. Aided by the new age display and sound technology in the television market, the penchant for the quality of the cable services has increased which the age-old cable networks could not offer. In came the Digital cable network, which produced a better viewing experience than its predecessor but there are some areas where it is no better than the old one.
DTH and Digital Cable, the Difference:
Although both the setups use the coveted digital signals, DTH has a dedicated antenna that is installed at your location to receive signals directly from the satellite; whereas the digital cable is same as your old cable network except that the signals are digital and are encrypted. In a sense, this antenna directly connects the user to the pay TV Company making it easier for both the parties.
Basically, these are the areas where the DTH services trumps over the digital cable network making it the users choice in the home entertainment space:
Freedom and Control on Channels:
No matter how much you pay your cable network, you wouldnt get to see your premium channels, you are always at the mercy of your cable operator. Whereas a DTH user is free to choose his own set from an endless list of channels around the world. There are so many packages available based on your interests and you are also given the choice to make your own customized package giving a complete control over what you wish to see.
High-Quality Video and Sound:
DTH services had always been a mile ahead in terms of video and sound quality. The drop in prices of quality LCD and LED television sets, the picture, and sound quality has drastically improved over the few years resulting in the demand for HD quality given by the DTH services. Hand in hand, Sports, and entertainment broadcasting companies have started to adopt specialized cameras in order to meet the demands.
Digital Video Recording:
All the latest DTH services are equipped with this feature of recording the programs which is not at all possible with the cable network. A handy feature for people who are short of time, it gives you the flexibility to record all the programs you might miss. With features like rewind/pause and they offer an ad-free experience, you can also remotely schedule the recordings over mobile or website.
The Power Issues:
When most of the homes are equipped with inverters, it makes little sense when you have to miss your favorite show just because the cable guy did not have the power backup. As a DTH user, you are no longer at the peril of power failure; an inverter at your home would suffice.
Movies and Videos on Demand:
In partnership with movie production houses, almost all the DTH services are offering premium movies and videos on the users demand. The price of watching the movie with your family is also very marginal compared to the pricey multiplex. Still, in evolution, this feature surely would have the largest impact in home entertainment.
No location problems:
You do not have to subscribe to a new network if you are into frequent re-locations, the ubiquitous satellite network will make sure that you receive the services without any disturbances. Making it even better, Folks like Videocon are offering the relocation services.
All the features discussed above had a sound impact on penetration and success of DTH into this space. Given that almost all those features are only in their budding stages, it is evident that their complete evolution will have an extraordinary impact on the home entertainment arena in years to come. A prince now, it can be said that DTH is all set to become the undisputed king of home entertainment space.
