Dialog TV
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| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunication |
| Founded | 2005 (as CBNsat) |
| Headquarters | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Products | Direct broadcast satellite |
| Parent | Dialog Telekom |
| Website | Official Website |
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 120,000 subscribers.[1] Its main competitors in the pay TV market in Sri Lanka are Lanka Broadband Networks (LBN) providing cable television services in Analog and DVB-C in selected areas in Sri Lanka and PEO TV which is an IPTV platform operated by Sri Lanka Telecom.
Dialog TV has coverage over the entire of Sri Lanka and up to Nepal and neighboring countries through the Intelsat-12 satellite (45.0E).
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[edit] Services
In addition to a lineup of TV Channels Dialog TV Also provides a PVR Service
Personal Video Recorder
Dialog TV resently Launch A PVR service Which allow customer's to record TV Programes on selected TV channels and also gives the ability to pause' Rewind and fast forward Live TV the product is currently marketed as "Dialog TV PVR" the service is used by connecting a USB Stick or External Hardrive via a USB cable to a USB port of the back of the Receiver and by calling the Dialog TV Customer technical support hotline (Activation Fees of Rs 250.00 on top of the monthly subscription apply)
But the service is not that good when compaired to PVR services provided by other pay TV providers in other countries like Sky(UK and Ireland) and Astro(Malaysia and Brunei) as you can't use the Trick play and record function on all TV channels
PVR service enabled TV channels
- BBC World News
- NDTV News 24/7
- ESPN
- STAR Sports
- STAR Cricket
- Ten Sports
- Ten Cricket
- MTV
- VHI
- C Music
- STAR Movies
- UTV World Movies
- STAR World
- FOX Crime
- NDTV Good Times
- National Geographic Channel
- Nat Geo Adventure
- Discovery channel
- Animal Planet
- TLC
- Discovery Science
- Discovery Turbo
- Nickelodeon
- Baby TV
- STAR Plus
- UTV Movies
- TNL
- |City Hits
- Heritage TV
- |Peace TV
- GOD TV
- The Buddist
- Learn TV
[edit] List of channels by Dialog TV
Dialog TV offers a wide variety of 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 19 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 3 2007. STAR Cricket was added on August 7 2007.
A software upgrade was tested on 8 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 18 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 18 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 6 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 adult 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. http://www.nation.lk/2007/04/22/busi3.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
