Highlights
- Airtel Digital TV is offering substantially more long-term channel packs with cashback offer
- The DTH provider is also offering a better multi-TV policy to its subscriber with Rs 80 NCF
Every subscriber and industry expert would agree on the fact that the DTH and broadcasting industry has grown a tad bit competitive after the introduction of the new tariff regime by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). After the introduction of the new regulatory framework, the DTH service providers are competing hard to gain as many subscribers as possible. The two prominent DTH service providers, Airtel Digital TV and Tata Sky, are on polar fronts and are introducing new offers and services to lure the subscribers. The two DTH service providers have also slashed the prices of their set-top boxes in an attempt to increase their reach. However, amidst this, customers might be having the question, which one of the DTH service providers is best among the two. To know the answer, read ahead.
Discount on Set-Top Boxes
Following on the footsteps of Tata Sky, Airtel Digital TV has announced a price cut on its set-top boxes. The DTH provider has announced that it has cut the prices of its STBs by Rs 200. This price-cut will be available on HD and SD STBs of Airtel Digital TV. Since the Airtel Digital TV customers are required to select a plan which is bundled along with the STB, therefore the pricing of the STB will depend on the plan which the subscribers choose.
On the other hand, Tata Sky has straightforward pricing for its STBs, and the DTH provider has introduced a Rs 400 price-cut on its set-top boxes. After this price cut, the Tata Sky SD set-top box will be available for Rs 1,600 whereas, the Tata Sky HD set-top box will be available for Rs 1,800. Given this difference, even with the bundled plan, the Airtel Digital TV subscribers are likely to find their set-top box cheaper than the Tata Sky STB in almost all cases generally.
Long-Term Plans
When it comes to long-term plans, the clear winner in the competition is Airtel Digital TV as the DTH provider is shipping way more than 100 semi-annual and annual channel packs for the subscribers and it is doing so with a 10% cashback offer. The Airtel Digital TV subscribers will be able to avail as much as 10% discount on their recharge of a long-term offer while making payments from Airtel Payments Bank or Airtel Money.
Tata Sky, on the other hand, is offering limited long-term plan options to its subscribers. The DTH provider has not launched many plans which come with 6-months or 12-months validity. Also, the only long-term subscription plan option that Tata Sky is offering is through the Annual Flexi plan where subscribers pay for 11-months and get the 12th month free. The Tata Sky subscribers get to select from a substantially limited pool of long-term channel packs as compared to Airtel Digital TV subscribers.
Multi-TV Policy
This is again another area, where Tata Sky lags owing to its latest announcement about withdrawing the multi-TV policy. Now Tata Sky subscribers with multiple TV connections will have to pay individually for every subscription. Whereas, Airtel Digital TV subscribers are required to pay only Rs 80 as NCF for their secondary connection along with the content charges. This Rs 80 plus taxes will be the NCF for 100 SD channels. It is apparent that for multi-TV subscribers, opting for an Airtel Digital TV connection is a better choice.
Verdict
Considering all the facts given above and taking into mind the recent price-cut on the STBs, the customers might find Airtel Digital TV to be a better choice in case you want to opt for long-term plans and especially for multi-TV connections. The latter is something which tips the needle more in favour of Airtel Digital TV as compared to Tata Sky. However, since this comparison does not take into mind service, and other offerings from both the brands, there is a chance that a Tata Sky subscription might suit your needs more.
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