Discussion Why can't HD channels survive in India?

[dino29]

So &xplor is the only Hindi one which is HD-only. And it is a movie channel.

They should launch a GEC channel which is HD-only targeted at upper class people. They can put shows similar to OTT platforms on the channel like Breathe, Sacred Games, Scam 1992 etc.

Firstly due to censorship rules these shows won't get desired audience on tv and anyways these kind of shows will have limited audience (as tv is for family viewing and such shows have restricted appeal with people watching it at one go) hence ad revenue won't b there. Lastly no broadcaster would want OTT base diluted. Already star is clearly trying to acquire content smartly for tv and ott platform so that each can attain best outcome

 

[Dr CK]

Most of the HD channels is not true HD, simply telecast HD version, without Dolby

 

[amty]

Buddy , only subscription dependent revenue model would not work in India. At best niche chs can afford to keep subscription to ad ratio little better.

this is what am saying bro add free channels wont survive in indian market....

 

[Deep Mody]

My Point Of View About The Thread Title:-

In My Home City Surat, Even Today In 90-95% Families, You Will Find SD Set Top Boxes. If Anyone Who Has SD Channels Will See HD Channels In Anybody's House, Then They Will Call Them 'अमीर लोग' Beacuse HD Channels Are Very Rarely Seen In Somebody's House In Surat.

In Fact, More Than HD Channels, English Channels Are More Rare. Everyone Goes To Their Cable Operator And Asks For The Basic Hindi Pack Which Just Includes SD Hindi GEC Channels, Hindi Movies Channels, Hindi News Channels, Hindi Sports Channels, Music Channels And Gujarati Channels And Some Other Few Channels.

And I Am Pretty Sure That Same Pattern Is Followed In Whole Gujarat. So This Is My View Why HD Channels Don't Get Enough TRP And Are Shut Down

 

[Bulgari]

My Point Of View About The Thread Title:-

In My Home City Surat, Even Today In 90-95% Families, You Will Find SD Set Top Boxes. If Anyone Who Has SD Channels Will See HD Channels In Anybody's House, Then They Will Call Them 'अमीर लोग' Beacuse HD Channels Are Very Rarely Seen In Somebody's House In Surat.

In Fact, More Than HD Channels, English Channels Are More Rare. Everyone Goes To Their Cable Operator And Asks For The Basic Hindi Pack Which Just Includes SD Hindi GEC Channels, Hindi Movies Channels, Hindi News Channels, Hindi Sports Channels, Music Channels And Gujarati Channels And Some Other Few Channels.

And I Am Pretty Sure That Same Pattern Is Followed In Whole Gujarat. So This Is My View Why HD Channels Don't Get Enough TRP And Are Shut Down

Agree.

Some channels SD is same price as HD which means these channels are for ameer log.

In Star GEC channels, we can clearly see a class distinction:

Star Utsav - Rs.1 - for poor people
Star Bharat - Rs.10 - for middle class people
Star Plus - Rs.19 - for rich people

 

[The Lonelier Island]

Agree.

Some channels SD is same price as HD which means these channels are for ameer log.

In Star GEC channels, we can clearly see a class distinction:

Star Utsav - Rs.1 - for poor people
Star Bharat - Rs.10 - for middle class people
Star Plus - Rs.19 - for rich people

Than justify Star Bharat HD for Rs 22.40 then.

 

[Bulgari]

Than justify Star Bharat HD for Rs 22.40 then.

I think they are thinking like this:

Star Utsav - Rs.1 - can be afforded by all
Star Bharat - Rs.10 for SD and Rs.19 for HD - can be afforded by both middle class and upper class. Middle class will choose SD and Upper class will choose HD.
Star Plus - Rs.19 for both SD and HD - Exclusively for upper class. This makes Star Plus SD redundant as an upper class person will always choose HD.

 

[Ashok L]

The main reason for downfall is TRAIs pricing strategy. Before TRAI effect, I used to get 50+ HD channels for 350 to 400 Rs along with maximum SD channels. Though some of HD channels were Hindi, I used to watch sometimes if anything is interesting. But now due to pricing strategy, I only chose specific channels. Hence other viewers like me gets decreases and it had became a downfall for many channels...

 

[Lakshay Yadav]

The main reason for downfall is TRAIs pricing strategy. Before TRAI effect, I used to get 50+ HD channels for 350 to 400 Rs along with maximum SD channels. Though some of HD channels were Hindi, I used to watch sometimes if anything is interesting. But now due to pricing strategy, I only chose specific channels. Hence other viewers like me gets decreases and it had became a downfall for many channels...

Completely agree i also used to get around most of the HD channels just for 350 something on DishTV before this TRAI rule

 

[The Lonelier Island]

I think they are thinking like this:

Star Utsav - Rs.1 - can be afforded by all
Star Bharat - Rs.10 for SD and Rs.19 for HD - can be afforded by both middle class and upper class. Middle class will choose SD and Upper class will choose HD.
Star Plus - Rs.19 for both SD and HD - Exclusively for upper class. This makes Star Plus SD redundant as an upper class person will always choose HD.

Dividing audience by class is bizzare thinking. Seeing that most watched Star Utsav show is also re-runned on Star Plus and Star Plus HD. Whole thing about charging channels highest possible is to encourage viewers to buy bouquets. These underpriced channels are also not charity work. They are cleverly doing that to keep bouquet price low.