RE: Tata Sky to add 20 new channels shortly
Indian direct-to-home (DTH) operator Tata Sky is to offer a further 20 channels following its upgrade to the latest MPEG 4 compression format.
The recent upgrade, which has caused disruption to the services of almost 17,000 of its ten million active subscribers, will provide more channel capacity, the company's chief executive told PTI.
"Last year we have added 80 channels and we would shortly add 20 more. Some of them would be HD channels," said Harit Nagpal, CEO, Tata Sky.
"We have also got additional capacity due to our timely decision to shift from MPEG 2 format to MPEG 4 format. It cost us money, but helped us."
Around 75% of Tata Sky's connections are now using MPEG 4 compression, with transmission via 12 Ku-Band transponders on the INSAT-4 satellite.
The DTH operator, a joint venture between Tata Sons and 21st Century Fox, hopes to increase its subscriber base by four million customers annually for the next five to six years, during the country's on-going cable digitisation programme.
It now has average revenue per user (ARPU) of INR250 (US$3.96). It hopes to increase this by 5% year-on-year, Nagpul told the PTI.
Tata Sky recently raised its tariffs by 4% or INR240 ($3.8).
Read more: Tata Sky to increase channels through MPEG-4 upgrade | Satellite | News | Rapid TV News
Tata Sky to increase channels through MPEG-4 upgrade | Satellite | News | Rapid TV News