Transponder's hinders growth & development of DTH

Televisionpoint.com Correspondent
Even as the direct-to-home (DTH) market segment is poised to take off in India, players in this space are confronted with the harsh ground reality about the inadequate transponder capacity. All their expansion plans can come crashing down unless the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) frequency of satellite launches matches the growth pace of the industry.

Tata Sky has already sounded a word of caution, "Currently we have 12 transponders in the KU band in Insat 4A. Tata Sky will, however, not be able to accommodate every single channel that wants to be a part of our DTH platform on account of transponder crunch. We may be forced to accept channels based on their viewership figures," Vikram Kaushik, Managing director and CEO, Tata Sky said.

Players in this space have also warned that transponder constraints could also result in content exclusivity as the complete bouquet cannot be offered by all DTH players. Under current regulations, DTH players cannot hire transponder capacity on foreign satellites.

"There are about 10 international satellites with spare capacity looking over India, but DTH operators cannot buy transponders on these. Besides, these are also higher powered transponders," explained a senior executive with a company offering DTH services.

Leading DTH operator, Dish TV, while accepting that transponders were to key to the sector's growth in India, has a different take, "We cannot underestimate the capabilities of ISRO. We remain confident that ISRO is equipped to fulfil our requirements," a source at Dish TV, who did not wish to be named said.

According to the source, Dish TV, which currently beams over 180 channels on account of its 7 transponders, would enhance its offerings to 260 channels post July, 2007, as the company is slated to be allotted five additional transponders next year.

The Government has its own stand on the issue, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan said today, "We can give transponders to anybody who wants - for TV or for communication services. We hope to have a total capacity of about 500 transponders by the end of the 11th Plan. So, there will be no shortage of any communication satellite capability. We will launch about 12 new communication satellites in the 12th Plan."