The new Yes FM morning show

It is has been sometime since the new Yes FM morning show was launched and it will be totally unfair of us to expect it to be the same standard as the old one since Shaq and Mark were a unique combination.

However with three DJ's being involved instead of the traditional two it should be said that the show is gaining in popularity once again. This show is way better than the Sun FM Morning Show which is trying to copy the Shaq and Mark style and is making a total mess of things instead of following a unique style of their own.

The Yes FM Morning Show has a lot of room for improvement and could do much better. There are some aspects of the show that should be removed and enhanced with more creative stuff. The way the promotions are being carried gives the impression that the winners are at times premeditated.

We are looking forward to your comments on how Yes FM can improve this morning show and how you perceive this show to be in comparison with the morning shows of the other English Language radio stations.

Rugby World Cup 2007 on SLRC and Neo Sports Plus

Sri Lankan FTA channel Rupavahini and Channel Eye will be telecasting the Rugby World Cup 2007 commencing on September 7th 2007 along with the Opening Ceremony. Neo Sports Plus will be telecasting the matches on pay television networks in this region.

It should be said that the SLRC channels are telecasting more matches compared to Neo Sports Plus. We believe that Neo Sports Plus is not telecasting all the matches since India is not so Rugby crazy. So Neo have acquired the rights based on Indian tastes therefore another broadcaster should be appointed to cater to those outside India. We hope the International Rugby Board takes action on behalf of those who love rugby and if Neo are not willing to broadcast all the matches then the license issued to Neo Sports Plus should be canceled and issued to an alternate broadcaster.

We hope that these steps are carried out soon and we request Neo Sports Plus to take steps to broadcast all the rugby matches. Not only Neo Sports Plus, we request SLRC also to take steps to broadcast all the matches for the benefit of those who will watch the tournament on FTA basis in Sri Lanka and if that is not possible to increase it to beyond what they have already scheduled. However since SLRC is a FTA channel we understand the financial constraints in carrying out this broadcast but Neo Sports Plus have no excuse since they are a pay television channel.

Neo Sports Plus is available in Sri Lanka on pay television platforms LBN and Dialog TV.

Please click here for the SLRC telecast schedule.

Please click here for the Neo Sports Plus telecast schedule.

Radio Eka on FM 104.5

The radio station which was initially thought of as being started by EAP in place of Raja FM is actually the station which would have been owned by the Jathika Hela Urumaya. The license of the station was bought by Mr. Hemaka head of Singer for a sum of Rs 110/= million and is presently being tested as "Radio Eka".

At the moment only Swarnavahini is carrying out the advertising for this radio channel.

Channel One MTV installing antenna's free

In case you are wondering please note that the antenna is not free but there will not be an installation charge. The antenna costs approximately Rs 750/= and it will be installed so that you can watch a clear image of Channel One MTV. For those who want this antenna installed, please call MTV/MBC and make the request.

It would have been much better if the antenna was also free since many people will not be willing to spend money for an antenna to watch Channel One MTV only. Most houses have two antenna's installed one for UHF and one for VHF and now it looks like this will be an additional antenna. It is absurd that people have to buy additional antenna's when a new channel comes up and it is time for these stations to seriously think of moving their channels onto a free to air satellite platform so that viewers will be able to enjoy crystal clear pictures with a single dish. These channels should also make themselves available on all pay television platforms in Sri Lanka.

It is up to the government and the Ministry of media to take steps so that all channels can be viewed by people anywhere in Sri Lanka.

Dialog Satellite TV vs Consumer Affairs Authority

Dialog Satellite TV has filed action against the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) in the Supreme Court for interfering in its affairs. It seems that the CAA has said that Dialog have no authority to carry out a DTH pay television operation. It is interesting to note that the CAA failed and turned a blind eye to the customers of CBNsat (now known as Dialog TV) when they were being deprived of services due to interferences from vested interests in high places.

It is the duty of the CAA to protect Dialog subscribers and subscribers of other organizations when they are being exploited instead of destroying their credibility by barking on behalf of people in high places.

We are sure that the people who failed to keep CBNsat shut are the people behind the move of the CAA and these shadowy figures (who have being mentioned by name in the CBNsat Blog) should be exposed and put to shame publicly. These people are indeed messing around with the wrong organization and Dialog should take severe action against these individuals who do business using unethical methods.

It is sickening to see that these people go to such great lengths using the influence that they have among the higher ups in society to achieve petty objectives even after failing previously.

Please note that we are unable to find any references to this issue except for the fact that it was mentioned in a news report yesterday.

Dialog Telekom to launch Neth TV

Dialog Telekom is to launch a television channel under the banner Neth TV. This channel will be the 55th channel in the Dialog Satellite TV platform. At the moment we are unable to confirm whether this channel will be available for terrestrial viewers too. It is highly likely that Dialog may want to launch Neth TV as the first local pay television channel in Sri Lanka. Their are rumors that there are plans launch an English Language Radio Station in addition to the Neth FM Colombo and the Neth FM Islandwide radio stations.

The launch of Neth TV is expected in September or October this year.

Dialog TV completes phase one of channel expansion

Dialog TV has completed Phase one of their channel expansion plan. At the moment Dialog has 54 channels including the latest addition Star Movies, Star World, Star Vijay, Star Plus, Star Cricket, Ten Sports, Neo Sports, Neo Sports Plus, Hallmark, God TV, The Buddhist and several other channels. It looks like that it will increase to 55 channels since Dialog are planning to launch their very own local channel, but this is however not confirmed.

Dialog are already planning for the launch of their fourth transponder which would include several more channels and probably a few Fox television channels available in this region if negotiations are completed successfully. This comes ahead of the planned launch of SLT IPTV, Comet Digital and also an aggressive channel expansion being carried out by LBN.

For more on Dialog TV please visit the Dialog TV Forum.

Bharti Telemedia to launch DTH Services

Okay for those who think why we are rambling about an Indian company launching DTH services, it is because Bharti Telemedia is owned by Bharti Airtel the next mobile operator in Sri Lanka. Bharti Airtel Sri Lanka Limited recently carried an advertisement in Sri Lanka because they are carrying out a recruitment drive and they are expected to launch cellular operations in Sri Lanka by the end of this year and their DTH operations in India will commence by the last quarter of the 2007/2008 fiscal year.

So will Bharti Telemedia's still unnamed DTH operation also be launched in Sri Lanka? Well it seems likely since they are setting up the uplinking station in India they will only have to sell their connections here. It may not happen immediately but a few months after they launch in India they may start selling connections here too. However since their main target will be Indian subscribers this will also contain the Indian feeds of Star Movies, AXN, HBO and some of the other channels but if they want to make a big impact on Sri Lanka then they may get the Singapore feed of the said channels specially for Sri Lanka and only for Sri Lankan subscribers.

Presently Dish TV, Tata SKY do not have any businesses in Sri Lanka and regard any connections sold in Sri Lanka as bonuses but Bharti Telemedia will be having an established business in the form of their sister company based in Sri Lanka.

There is no indication that Sri Lanka is on their list but there is no reason why they should not have us on their list either so only time will tell.

Siyatha and Neth news

Siyatha FM
The Sinhala Language Radio station Siyatha FM has launched a new frequency for Colombo on FM 90.9 and it seems that the quality has improved too. In addition their previous Colombo frequency FM 98.6 has now become their Islandwide frequency.

Neth FM
The new Neth FM frequency in Colombo FM 95 is a totally different station and carrying out a seperate broadcast but is also called Neth FM. Shouldn't they rename it to something else otherwise this will confuse the listener specially those who do not have digital tuners. It will also confuse those who move into colombo from outstation areas.