New DTH connections to cost more on rupee fall
Set-top box prices also get increase if rupee continue falls.
Anyone looking to buy a new direct to home connection to home (DTH), be prepared to pay more. Since the fall of the rupee, DTH operators have no choice left but the cost of additional import set-top boxes (STB) to pass new subscribers.
At the top is the market leader Dish TV DTH India with a share of $ 1.5 billion 32.4 million subscribers in 28% (2012 figures from Media Partners Asia) DTH industry.
The company has reduced the prices of standard-definition (SD) and Dish Recorder Plus decoder from Rs 250 to Rs 2,249 and Rs 2,349 raised from Thursday, respectively. No increase was, however, in high-definition set-top boxes (HD), which is still available performed at Rs 3099th
The price increase reflects STB on the case of the rupee against the dollar. The local currency has lost almost 12% in the last two months and closed Thursday at 60.13.
Dish TV officials did not share details citing the results of the period of silence for the first quarter of the current fiscal year, which is soon.
Other DTH players like Tata Sky, Reliance Digital Airtel Digital and the prices have also risen.
Harit Nagpal, CEO and MD, Tata Sky, Tata Sons DTH joint venture with Star India, confirmed the price increase, namely, changes in exchange rates hurt the company, importing all decoders.
"New customers now have a Tata Sky connection on a (8-10%) marginal increase due to the lower exchange rate of the Indian rupee," he said, adding that the new prices came into force 1 July.
A spokesperson from Reliance Big TV, Digital TV, also confirmed an increase of Rs 260 to Rs 2,250 July 4 SD decoder So to buy a direct TV is will be costly now.
Videocon D2H and Sun Direct TV officials could not be contacted.
Although digital Airtel not yet officially announced its decision, however, a company official said that a price increase is inevitable.
"The Directtv DTH already facing challenges, the boxes offer at subsidized prices. Devaluation of the rupee will only make things more difficult. Am sure the STB price will rise more or less in the same proportion as the competition," the official said, requesting anonymity want.
The DTH industry is required for growth thanks to digital by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India. Industry experts believe DTH players are most of the third and fourth phase of the scan that will secure the country in December 2014.
A report by Media Partners Asia, an independent provider of information about media services, entertainment and communication electronics, India DTH industry to 3.9 million euros and 63.8 million subscribers grow in 2017 and $ 5,000,000 76.6 million subscribers in 2020.
