Dialog TV
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dialog TV | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Subsidiary |
| Founded | 2005 (as CBNsat) |
| Headquarters | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Industry | Telecommunication |
| Products | Direct broadcast satellite |
| Parent | Dialog Telekom |
| Website | http://www.dialogtv.com |
Dialog TV is a direct broadcast satellite pay television provider based in Sri Lanka. A fully owned subsidiary of Dialog Telekom, Dialog TV was launched in July 2005 under the name "CBNsat". It was later renamed Dialog TV in February 2007 after the company was acquired by Dialog Telekom.[1]
Dialog TV currently has over 25,000 subscribers.[1] Its main competitors in the pay TV market in Sri Lanka are Comet Cable, operated by Ruhuna 2001 Multivision, one of the pioneer pay TV operators in Sri Lanka and Lanka Broadband Networks (LBN), providing cable based television services both in analog and DVB-C in areas within Colombo.
Competition is expected from future DTH services, although none have been confirmed yet. Fixed line operator Sri Lanka Telecom is also scheduled to launch an IPTV service in the second half of 2007.[2]
Dialog TV has coverage over the entire of Sri Lanka and up to Nepal and neighboring countries through the IS12 satellite. However, recently Dialog TV has been criticized for charging higher amounts of rentals from its customers, mainly because cable operators charge less for the same services to be offered to the consumer.
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[edit] Services
Dialog TV currently provides 48 international TV channels and 6 local TV channels.
[edit] Development and Expansion
Dialog TV expresses its hopes to soon expand their digital network to other neighboring countries.
Dialog TV signed an agreement with ESPN and Star Sports on 7 March 2006, and launched the channels on 24 March 2006. The Zee package (Zee TV, Zee Cafe, Zee Cinema, Zee Trendz, Zee Sports, Zee Muzic, Zee Studio) was launched in January. Al Jazeera English was launched on 19th April 2007, replacing the SET channel.
In March 2007, Dialog TV won exclusive rights to broadcast the Cricket World Cup 2007 in Sri Lanka.[1]
Dialog TV's third transponder was launched in late April 2007. The third transponder is now available on Dialog TV for all subscribers, and all except one of the new channels are launched. The STAR package was launched on August 3rd 2007. STAR Cricket was added on August 7th 2007.
A software upgrade was tested on 8th June, although it only updated to the June 1 2006 software, which is included on all decoders sold from January 2007. The 2007 July update was made available on July 18th 2007. This update changed all logos and names on the software to "Dialog TV" from the previous "CBNsat". The software was automatically installed to decoders at 3.00 pm on July 18th 2007, and at 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm on the same day for those who missed the previous updates. If all automatic updates were missed, it is possible to update the software using the IRD Upgrade menu option on the decoder.
[edit] High Definition Tests
Dialog TV is confirmed to be carrying out private test transmissions of High Definition broadcasting.[1]
[edit] Closure of Dialog TV (then CBNsat) and halt of services for 6 months
On June 6th 2006, the Sri Lanka Police's Criminal Investigation Department raided the CBNsat broadcast premises and ordered to shut down the service. CBNsat was accused of not possessing the correct DTH broadcasting license and broadcasting the NTT channel (of the LTTE) on their service. CBNsat was also blamed for broadcasting possibly illegal content on Fashion TV.
The Media Ministry took over the case when the CID dropped their charges in late 2006. It was not possible to show evidence of CBNsat broadcasting the NTT channel as it blocked Free To Air channels form the customer decoders and NTT was a Free To Air channel.
The Media Ministry could not prove any of the allegations and was finally forced to provide the necessary license to CBNsat. Meanwhile, CBNsat was financially crippled and was acquired by Dialog Telekom in December 2006. The service was finally relaunched in February 2007.
As a result of the closure, a few subscribers gathered together to form CBNsat Subscribers Unite. The subscribers worked hard to bring CBNsat out of trouble during the closure, and ultimately caused the government to give up their vested interests.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Dialog TV takes Sri Lanka by storm", Marianne David, The Nation, 2007-04-22. Retrieved on 2007-07-02.
- ^ SLT to broadcast TV.
