DTH joins 3D march

Addressing the media,Bachchan said that 3D technology has already taken the world by storm after the release of James Camerons Avatar. We have had sporting events broadcast in 3D last year as well. This is the perfect time for Videocon d2h to come out with a 3D enabled DTH service, he said.

Bachchan,who is the brand ambassador of Videocon d2h,then proceeded to launch the companys latest set-top box,a high-definition HD digital video recorder DVR that supports 3D technology.

HD DVR with 3D enhances picture quality and gives HDD High Definition Digital sound. It can pause,rewind and forward live TV and record up to 200 hours of content. The move is expected to give the company a boost in the burgeoning DTH market. While other players are currently focussed on ramping up HD services and are in various stages of broadcasting channels of various genre on their DTH platform,Videocon d2h is offering the 3D bait for users who are looking for something extra.

However,niggling issues regarding the technology remain. It also seems to be a decision made in haste. The company has said that watching 3D content will require special 3D glasses for which the company has not made any provision. To fully experience the power of 3D,television screens will need to support the technology as well. 3D TVs have made an entry in the Indian market but sales are nowhere close to toppling conventional LCDs and plasma TVs. Content in 3D,too,is yet to take off in a major way with local content manufacturers still grappling with the intricacies of HD content. Anil Khera,CEO of Videocon d2h,however,sounded optimistic. Viewers can use 3D glasses supplied by the television manufacturer to watch 3D content. And even if he doesnt have a 3D television,he can still experience high clarity by using the 3D set-top box, he said and added,As far as content is concerned,we realise there is a dearth of it on television. Thus,we are introducing two channels of our own that will screen 3D content that we have sourced from outside the country. Besides this,two other international channels are also in the process of introducing 3D. The IPL semi-finals and finals will be telecast in 3D as well. The test signals for the same have already begun with 10 minute daily broadcasts and will be launched in the next 45 days.

Saurabh Dhoot,Director of Videocon Group said,We are looking at a revolution in the DTH market. Digitsation is the way to go in the entertainment business. The number of subscribers is supposed to double from the current 32 million within three years. Our High Definition Digital Video Recorder with 3D will act as a bridge between 3D television and 3D channel feed. It will definitely help us increase our market-share in the coming months. The 3D HD box is priced at Rs 2490 while the 3D HD-DVR box is priced at Rs 3990.