[john.sw]

We're thinking of getting satellite TV.

We can get cable for a monthly fee, but are considering TataSky or DishTV.

Is satellite a better idea than cable?  

Which is better, TataSky or DishTV, and why?

[cyberhippie]

For the decerning "western Viewer" I would go with DishTV John. Their picture quality was fine, even in the Himalaya and they offer a better package more suited to western tastes than that of Sky Tata.
Channels like HBO and TCM aren't available on Sky Tata as yet as are a host of other "English langauge" channels!!

[vinayverma]

I was just going through the list of channel's on TataSky and HBO is there. I'm also thinking of going for one as our cable walla in Gurgoan has very poor quality of transmission and does not have power back-up.
Our DVD rental shop here, also installs DishTV and TataSky and I asked him few days back on which is better, according to him TataSky was better.
Moreover, I find the DishTV packages too confusing. it seems their top of the line package is for Rs. 300 per month, where as Tatasky has just one package and it is Rs.200 per month.
I would be interested in hearing form others on this.

[sugarnspice]

I was going through both the sites as well and while a friend has dish TV and is quite happy with it. I agree that the Dish TV site has too many packages and it can get a bit confusing because the descriptions are not very clear. I think Tatasky might be a better choice.

[jyotirmoy]

Broached this topic during lunch time. Most of the people spoke well about TataSky. One guy was not much thrilled, it turned out that his cable service provider quietly pumps in bootlegs of recently released movies! No chance of that on these satelite stuffs.

[Abhijit Sur]

I am using Tata Sky a joint venture of Tata and Star TV for last one month. The quality of reception is excellent and it has more features than Dish TV run by Zee TV.  I got it installed for Rs4000 which includes three months rental @ Rs200 per month. They are going to launch the package system shortly in line  with Dish TV. In my view Tata Sky is a better option than Dish TV.

[cyberhippie]

Vinay I'm suprised DishTV are the ones with "Goal" so you can entertain your interest in the Premiership in England, I see this channel also covers Scottish Games, as well As Dutch and Italian league action, for an extra 50 bucks a month I'm thought you would be  in there, Jaldi like!!

Ahbit what do you mean by  features?? I looked at the "interactive" features and both were transmitting the "interactive" channels such as they were!!

Also lets not forget Johnsw is Welsh and will need some stuff for his second language of English    Tata seems to be lagging in this but with the Sky tieup, that is probably a situation that will be quickly remedied!!

As it stands though the 300 rupees deal on DishTV seems better for the western consumer!!

[Abhijit Sur]

Tata Sky regularly adding channels. By another one month or so they will have 200 channels including lot of foreign channels. Now the trend is that people are opting for Tata sky rather than Dish TV. Service is also better. In one of my friend's house the dish antenae of dish TV got twisted due to heavy wind. Dish TV people rectified after 10 days after lot of hassle.

[cyberhippie]

Ok Ahbit I see what you're saying. Sky has major clout in the world of TV so it wouldn't suprise me to see a constantly improving service from them!!
My comments were made on the current status but I'm sure Sky will grab the headlines, Mr Murdoch has a "little" experience!!

The Sky service in the UK is staggering!

What about "Goal" for Vinay????

[Hippie at Heart]

As a business house the name of TATA not just recently but for ages stand for consumer friendly commitment, consistency, and reliability and have a solid recall value as the ad honchos would say. Given a choice Indian customers will sway towards tata any day, when both services are just about on same pitch of offer in terms of channel numbers and pricing. Except their lousy Indica cars (Indian varient) I prefer anything TATA offer.

[john.sw]

cyberhippie, on Oct 30 2006, 06:22 PM, said:

...Also lets not forget Johnsw is Welsh and will need some stuff for his second language of English...

I have never been so insulted outside the Principality!

The S of SW, I'll have you know is Sinclair... you southerners!

[vinayverma]

cyberhippie, on Oct 31 2006, 12:30 AM, said:

Ok Ahbit I see what you're saying. Sky has major clout in the world of TV so it wouldn't suprise me to see a constantly improving service from them!!
My comments were made on the current status but I'm sure Sky will grab the headlines, Mr Murdoch has a "little" experience!!

The Sky service in the UK is staggering!

What about "Goal" for Vinay????

Yes CH the Goal channels definately add value, but I normally get my EPL and European leagues on ESPN, STAR and TenSports. For example today Chelsea v/s Barcelona match would be live on TenSports, except that it would start at 12.30AM   . For someone who is into other than EPL and major european leagues, its attractive.
At the same time, I've also heard/read about customer care issues with DishTV, they normally take days, if not hours to respond. I hope TataSky would be better in that area.
My basic reason to look at Satellite TV is because of the poor transmission (off color, bit of 'snow', poor audio) from my exisitng cable walla plus ability to watch and listen certain channel in their native language like most of the cartoon/kids channel who've dubbed almost all their foreign programs into Hindi with most of the time awfull translations.
I'm not too concerned with 'interactive' features which are supposed to be there.
I'm swinging in favour of TataSky and this thread is making me go fast on this. I might place an order today  

[cyberhippie]

He he John gotcha!!

Vinay Goal has the Scottish premiership, try and catch a Celtic V Rangers match, there are few bigger fixtures in the world of football!!

[vinayverma]

CH what the commission percentage DishTV is paying you
seriously, more than the channels its the customer support and service that is importnat to me. I hardly get time to watch TV atall. it has been 3 weeks since I watched a live EPL match (moreover EPL has India friendly timings). I didn't watch last night Chelsea v/s barcelona (which ended 2-2 and 10 yellow cards), I'm happy to catch up with the highlights, if I can otherwise Internet is fine.

[cyberhippie]

Nah I meant watch it on someone elses TV   

I promise you'll enjoy it The fields of Athenrye sung by 55000 hoops is something you won't forget in a hurry!!

By the way have you heard of these new things called sling boxes they promise to change the way we watch TV forever, India will of course have to introduce high speed internet connections first though!!

[vinayverma]

cyberhippie, on Nov 1 2006, 10:27 AM, said:

Nah I meant watch it on someone elses TV   

I promise you'll enjoy it The fields of Athenrye sung by 55000 hoops is something you won't forget in a hurry!!

By the way have you heard of these new things called sling boxes they promise to change the way we watch TV forever, India will of course have to introduce high speed internet connections first though!!

Hmm Sling is interesting. I'm not sure if this is same but MTNL in Delhi and Mumbai is offering IPTV through its broadband connection. I'm still not convinced till I see it working without and delays (or long time buffering it)
Here are the details from their website:
Commercial Instructions on IPTV Services (Internet Protocol TV) service in Delhi

MTNL Delhi announces commencement of registration for IPTV service. Details of Services offered, commercial procedure and tariff are detailed below:

1. Service offered are:
a) TV Channels (free to air and pay channels);
Time shifted TV(TSTV);
c) Video on demand;
d) Video calling.

2.     Service will be provided to broadband customers of MTNL Delhi.
3.     Registration will start with effect from 26.10.2006.
4.     Booking will be done at Call Centre1500 and  at Sanchar Haats.    
5.     The provisioning of service will start from 1st November 2006 subject to technical
        Feasibility.
6.     The service will be provided free of cost for two months for the subscribers who    
  Register till 15th November 2006. Registration shall be limited to 20000 customers.
7.     There will be two plans:  
a) Silver Plan: - All the services mentioned above at Point 1.
Bronze Plan:- All the services mentioned above at Point 1 except video calling.

8.       Tariff

a) Registration Charges: Rs. 500/- (To be adjusted in first telephone    
      (Non-refundable)                          bill after provision of service.)



Security and Rental for Set Top Box (STB):

Plan Security STB Rental (Rs.)
  (Rs.) Quartly Annual One Time Rental
Silver 1500 300 1025 4120
Bronze 1000 225 775 3100

[vinayverma]

Just spoke to the Regional manager of TataSky in North. The monthly subscription has gone upto Rs. 260 (Rs 200 was special offer till diwali, I missed it but I bargained and got Rs.550 for 3 months hehehe arn't we Indian good at it )
TataSky is going add all (I don't trust that but I guess many of them) the Sky channels within a month and if this is true, I'll be able to watch Scottish league as well.
So just placed the order for TataSky. Total damage: Rs 3000 for the Set top box (digicom) and the Dish + Rs 1000 for installation and one year warranty + Rs550 for 3 months subscription = Rs 4550.

[cyberhippie]

Sounds good Vinay I wish we had Sky here in Holland, Channel Four Films and UK Gold are just two channels I would like!!

A friend of mine is a wizard with Satellite he picks up over 2000 channels on his dish and with the help of a card writer!!   

[vinayverma]

when I was in London I was on NTL, again didn't watch too much of TV but I was satisfied. In UK, hacking of Set top Boxes (Digicomp) was a normal thing and I met a guy who offered to do this for me for free, but didn't do it as the connection was owned by my landlord and last thing I wanted was getting into any problem.
In Hong Kong, especially in the Northern Territories and Mong kok markets (bit far from the main HK island and central) these copy decoders were sold freely for around HK$ 200. these could grab all the channels available on the cable subscription.
I'm sure this would come to India as the market for satellite TV grows.

Anyway, just got the phonce call saying the Set top box arrives in an hour and installation is scheduled for today evening. yepeee

[cyberhippie]

vinayverma, on Nov 1 2006, 07:37 AM, said:

Anyway, just got the phonce call saying the Set top box arrives in an hour and installation is scheduled for today evening. yepeee

This is the type of service we can only dream about in Europe!!! Or did you have "cousin brother "on the telephone Vinay