Let a hundred channels bloom

Let a hundred channels bloom

Satellite distribution will see the entry of digital compression techniques within the next couple of years. The digital compression of a signal means 3 or more services can be loaded onto a transponder. DD envisages digitisation as part of its future strategy, but the software deficit dictates otherwise for the present. O P Verma, general manager (technical) of Jain TV, says," You do not need large dishes for digital signals. They have to be only about 0.75 m in diameter. All growing companies have to recognise the change of technology required."

Star TV is also considering digitisation. Sources say with 8 channels to be available on Asiasat II, it would be possible to transmit 32 channels, based on technology being developed by an affiliate.

But digitisation has its critics. Siddhartha Ray, president of RPG Enterprises' satellite TV project, says, "Digitisation will ensure good quality if there's only one transponder to a channel, as the signal will then not be corrupted by environmental noise. But the limitation will be the expenditure involved. At the operator level, it could require hardware expense of up to $2000 per channel, which in the "price sensitive Asian market" pose an imposing question mark." Of course, the principal benefit of digitisation could be increased pay TV transmission, where signals are encrypted and transmitted and decoded at the receiver's end. 12jav.net12jav.net