DTH Services Comparison In India: Which Is Best DTH In India?

[vaisheenu]

DTH Services Comparison In India: Which Is Best DTH In India?

Here is a clear & an impartial comparison of DTH services in India.

DTH services comparison in India

1. Quality of Service:

The most important thing that one looks for after a buying a commodity is the after sales service of the company to its customers. None can stay without watching television for a single day! All the DTH service providers offer a 24/7 customer care for you to manage packs or lodge any complaint. Most of the DTH providers now also provide online chat help during office hours. But who actually sticks to their promise?

Winner of this section: Tata Sky

Runner up: Airtel Digital TV

Tata Sky actually addresses the problem of their customers within 24 hours. Besides 24/7 Helpline, they also provide online support where you can self-help yourself. In addition to that if you have any hardware problem, they send their engineers within 24 hours & replace the damaged item instantly (if required). Many other DTH promises to send support within 24 hours but it never happens!

2. Packaging:

The next thing you need to check out before making your decision is that, if the channel package designed by the company suiting you or not? Many DTH providers promise to give you hundreds of channels in your pack but actually most of them are channels that no-one ever watches!

Winner of this section: Videocon D2H.

Runner up : Airtel Digital TV

Videocon gives more valuable channels in their packages than others. High end packages of Airtel are very good too (except their Sports channel coverage at present). Tata Sky either doesn’t add or adds the channels of the Zee Group very late whenever there are some new channels. They also don’t keep the sports channels of the Zee Group in their base pack (Ten Action, Ten Sports, Ten Cricket). On the other hand, DISHTV does the same with the channels of STAR Group. They don’t keep the sports channels of STAR Group in their base pack (Star Sports, Star Cricket, ESPN). That’s a big disadvantage for both!

3. Pricing:

Another important aspect, specially for a price-conscious market like India is the price of the packages & the a-la-carte channels.

Winner for cheaper pricing of packages: Videocon D2H.

Runner up: Airtel Digital TV.

Winner for cheaper pricing of a-la-carte channels: Tata Sky.

4. HD Channels:

If you are planning to buy an HD Set top box, then you must check how many true HD channels are available in a particular DTH platform?

Winner for having the highest number of true HD channels Videocon D2H.

Runner up: Airtel Digital TV.

5. SD Channels:

Last but not the least is the count of channels, your DTH service provider is giving you.

Winner of this section: Dish TV.

Runner up: Videocon D2H.

Dish TV has most no. of SD channels whereas Videocon D2H gives the most number of regional channels than anyone else. They also add new channels really fast & early. Sun DTH is strong in regional content in South India.

DTH service provider based comparison:


TATA SKY:

Pros: Top quality service, good Audio & Picture quality, no hidden charges/ unwanted deductions.

Cons: Bit expensive, very slow in adding new channels, less regional channels.

AIRTEL DTH:

Pros: Value for money from all perspective, good Audio & Picture quality.

Cons: Low-end Packages are not that good (specially Sports pack).

VIDEOCON D2H:

Pros: Cheap & Good Packages, Most no. of SD & HD channels and good coverage of Regional Channels.

Cons: Audio & Picture Quality is not at par with some other DTH service providers.

DISH TV:

Pros: Many Channels, All Zee Group Channels available, allows you to store recordings in any external USB storage device, thus the recording facility comes at no extra cost.

Cons: Problem with Star Group channels, High Price of a-la-carte (single) channels, Poor customer care service.

SUN DTH:

Pros: Great variety of South Indian packs, undoubtedly the best Choice for South Indians.

Cons: Rest of India Packs are not good, Very less non-south Regional Channels, Very few HD channels.

RELIANCE DTH:

Pros: All 250 channels available in up-scaled HD like quality with video resolution of 1080p at 50 Hz.

Cons: Lack of publicity/clarity, infrastructure, very slow in adding new channels or updating packs, many customer complaints.

DD DIRECT+:

Pros: India’s only free DTH Service.

Cons: Very few channels, only free to air channels available, most channels are useless.

Final Verdict:

My choice for South Indians would be Sun Direct or D2H.

Choice for non-South Indians would be Airtel Digital TV or D2H.

If you are from South India, then you can go for Sun Direct (or D2H if you want more HD channels). For the rest of India, my choice is D2H or Airtel Digital TV, as it is good in both service & very good Packages with good number of Regional & HD Channels.

DTH SERVICES POINTS TABLE (OUT OF 10) AND RANKING:

NOTE:

1. Genie's views are depicted...humans may disagree
2. Genie welcomes human logic with open heart :luv

Original idea from: DTH Services Comparison in India: Which is Best DTH in India?

Very Good Comparison, Thank You Freind.

 

[utsc]

I think the comparison is fairly old and needs to be updated. I disagree that SunDirect is the best choice for South anymore. Videocon has been competing very aggressively and now carries the most number of South channels for for a very reasonable price

 

[TirumalHD]

Please update this thread

 

[deepakkodela]

Tata Sky is the Best in No of channels and quality. Disht tv is the cheapest.