Sun TV group announces DTH services in just Rs. 75

NI Wire

Chennai

Sat, 22 Sep 2007: 

Sep 22: India’s second largest television network, Sun TV has announced to introduce its own Direct-to-Home service to provide the better display in freef cost.

The users have to pay Rs. 990 one time as an activation charges. Users has another option to pay the charges on monthly basis that will be Rs. 75 per month for 75 channels includes 20 regional channels of the four southern states and 15 FM channels per month.

The Sun TV group is owned by Maran brothers-Kalanidhi Maran and Dayanidhi Maran, who is also the owner of Sumangali Cable Vision. Sun TV is the most popular television network in South India that is going to introduce DTH service from Sep 21, 2007 as official announced.

Maran brothers have announced in media that the earlybirds would be given free antennas and set top boxes and only they have to pay for the activation fee. The subscribers can also choose the option of monthly installment. Sun Direct is a 80:20 joint venture between Sun TV’s group and Malaysia-based Astro Group.

“This DTH has launched to break the monopoly of the Sumangali Cable Vision network, the largest cable network of Tamil Nadu” that is owned by Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran as TN government said.

On the other hand, Sun TV group official has said, “Tamil Nadu is a test market for us to offer DTH service. The offer (Rs75 for 75 channels) is only in Tamil Nadu. We want to see how this package works.”

While, the 50,000 big cable TV operators in Tamil Nadu are strongly protesting the newly DTH as they have to face the problems of their livelihood. They are also asking the government to increase the luxury tax on Sun Group's DTH equipment.

Managing Director of SCV and Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran has asked the operators to provide written complain to the government to took step against DTH service providers, but the operators refused to do so, saying it was the duty of the Sun TV group, with whom they had been doing business for the past many years, to protect their interests.