Through the antenna and a receiver atop the TV set, the subscriber will be able to directly access dozens of TV channels from a Ku band transponder on a satellite without having to rely on a cable operator. ISkyB, a Rupert Murdoch outfit, is expected to go ahead full-stream with DTH broadcasting since it has already hired transponders but was unable to start DTH broadcasting in the absence of proper government guidelines. Other players including Zee, ThaiSat and MeaSat are also expected to enter the sector. There are more than 75 million television homes in the country, most of whom can only accessing state-run television channel Doordarshan.
Experts say that DTH can increase the reach of other channels to Indian television households.
Rao, however, said that interactive TV viewing through DTH broadcasting service would call for new sets as more than one-third of the television sets in India are outdated. Industry sources say that the crucial issue in the DTH service would be uplinking. The government has made it mandatory for the DTH providers to uplink from the country while a majority of them have already invested huge amounts on setting up earth stations in other parts of the world. According to official guideline for the private players, the licensee will have to establish the uplink earth station in India within 12 months from the date the license is issued. Roop Sharma, president of Cable Operators Federation of India, said DTH broadcasts would not affect cable TV operations in the country.