Monday, March 10, 2008

"Channel C" - Sri Lanka's 1st 24X7 Sinhala Music Channel launches today

The first ever Music Television style channel operated in Sri Lanka will be launching officially today on Dialog Satellite TV. The channel called "Channel C" will be telecasting Sinhala Music Video's on a 24X7 basis. Later on it may also adopt broadcasting programming using VJ's like those by Music Television.

This channel is said to have the backing of "Torana Music". This becomes the second local pay channel in Sri Lanka after "CiTi HiTz". If "Channel C" is broadcast outside Sri Lanka onto Middle Eastern & Western Pay television networks there is no doubt that this channel will gain a tremendous following among the Sri Lankan expatriates. However there is no doubt that this channel will expand far beyond our shores.

This channel is also available on Dialog Mobile TV (MyTV) and commenced testing on Dialog Satellite TV a few days ago.

45 comments:

LankaMedia said...

Congratulations for Channel C team - I am sure this is going to be a great experience for our Sinhala music lovers...

Visit www.LankaMediatalk.com

lahiru said...

I think it a new age of sri lankan music.it has new programes like music unlimited etc..

sithma said...

This episode on IPTV has a lot to write about. Having read this comment on introduction of IPTV in Sri Lanka, prompted me to do some research on the net. It appears most of the big league guys such as BT, Singtel, Reliance, France Telecom have or about to have an IPTV offering in their service portfolio. But then…this is Sri Lanka. I am trying to dig stats on the number of customers changing from Satellit,DTH offering to Cable,IPTV but still not got. All indications are with SLT joining the TV arena, will make the service provider industry more competitive and thus bringing the prices down which is a welcome move and make it more affordable to the average customer. SLT has by far the biggest and diverse customer segments, with people of all walks of life.



Also with rumours of SLT upgrading their core IP network to 10G, would make these services faster to the end customer. After all SLT needs a very good distributed ADSL and fiber network, and a resilient core network to provide bandwidth reservation for IPTV services. Also IPTV would change the whole landscape of the TV industry bringing in the Interactive part where the customer has a choice of when/where he wants to watch the movie. I myself would like to watch movies and episodes at the time I like.



Rumour has it that DTV in a frantic move, is countering the competition by giving free decoders to premium customers, and testing MPEG4 transmission to enable them to b’cast more channels. All in all, if SLT get things in perspective, we would be not having problems of sudden channel shut out during rains and winds (no more blames on Global Warming!!), and heavy pixellation in viewing, an intrinsic issue in the Ku band reception

Unknown said...

@sithma,
Regarding IPTV it wont be a big hit in Sri Lanka for the moment. Only the ADSL office package holders are going to get this (got this information from SLT 1243) so it is beyond the home users. How many ADSL office package users are there?? Total number of ADSL connections in Sri Lanka is 60000 for the moment, and how many ADSL office users are there??. It will be beyond most of the ADSL users. Please call 1243 (free call) and check.

Unknown said...

ABC Network (Hiru,Sha,Sun,Gold,Suriyan) will start again on 27th March testing will begin on air from 20th.Few days ago they meet welknown astrologer at Boralesgamuwa & fixed above dates as best Neketh time.

sithma said...

@podiman
That's strange...it does not restrict technically for SLT to restrict IPTV to one ADSL segment (office package). SLT will lose out if they do this. I would love to check this from there call centre. If i was SLT I would sell this as a TV service and not as an ADSL service, although last mile copper/fiber is used in this process. The advantage SLT has on IPTV is that they could offer internet and voice on top of this TV service

Unknown said...

@sithma,
There is nothing strage over this matter. SLT has been talking about IPTV for the last year or so it is just talking. There is only 60000 ADSL subscribers in SL and from that very few have office package. On top of that no company is going to allow the workers to watch TV during office hour. Take out all those connections, is there anything left??? I reckon there will be less than 100 who has ADSL office package at home in SRI LANKA. That is the situation for the moment, if they come down to home packages it is something differant.

sithma said...

@Podiman
As per the reliable info that I have IPTV testing is already on and it will go on Pilot early next month and the IPTV connection does not need to have ADSL with "Internet Browsing". At present ADSL prcing is consisit of International backbone charges. As IPTV does not require these charges, I hope SLT can come down pricing in IPTV to a very ompetitive range with novel features like TSTV, VOD etc... that non of the DTH and Cable operators can match.I belive Dialog TV also reduce their prices of packages as they cannot match DTH technology with IPTV. We appeal SLT to design packages that people can afoord. afford

Looser said...

@sithma

Can you tell me how they give IPTV without ADSL?

Do they need a telephone line?

Do you know what IPTV is?

TechnoGuy Sri Lanka said...

SLT IPTV will need an ADSL connection with around 2 Mbps download to work well. It is necessary that the ADSL connections have internet access, because IPTV will be transferred as Internet Data over the ADSL network.

SLT IPTV will also need a good pricing structure, preferably far better than the current one, to succeed commercially.

And I really doubt that SLT will launch all planned services immediately. Remember what even CBN Sat said about EPG and interactivity, etc. But EPG didn't actually work until later and we are still waiting for interactivity. And especially SLT does not have a good record of doing things right at first.

But Dialog and LBN should get ready for the competition, whatever it may be.


I think what Sithma says is that IPTV can be provided to us without the international internect connectivity, which means SLT does not have to pay for bandwidth on the international fibre-optic connections they use.

But everything has its pros and cons. Satellite is expensive than IPTV, and implementing interactive features is difficult. But then IPTV has its own cons like bandwidth requirements.

We will have to wait and see to understand the real good, bad and the competition.

Also, at the moment Dialog evidently has 50000+ connections. ADSL has 60000+. That means it is likely that many with ADSL also have Dialog TV, expecially in Colombo area. Difficult market.

Lightning_Struck_Tower said...

By the look of things ia have come to the following conclusion:

Bittorrent>IPTV

sithma said...

@Looser
You need ADSL but not Int'l Connetivity.
You need high bandwith atleast 2 to 3mbps
IPTV comes with Unicast and Multicast funtions
Multicast funtions(Unique to IPTV than Cable TV) needs gurrenteed bandwidth from VOD/TSTV(Time Shifted Tv) server to customer premisses where unicast needs not necessary from VOD/TSTV server to Customer premisses for each customer. I believe What I understand is correct or any one can give us full tech details pl
For all this you need ADSL connection vis copper/Fiber Telephone connection of lastmile

Looser said...

Ok Thanks

sithma & Technoguy

sithma said...

I called the 1243 call centre and apparently there is no restriction whatsover to restrict IPTV to the Office ADSL package users. So SLT essentially will be targetting the 60,000 odd ADSL customer base and also every customer who has a POTS connection will also be a potential IPTV customer. So there the story goes !!

LKDOOD said...

// OFF TOPIC BUT RELATED TO COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY IN SRI LANKA //


Airtel signs $100-mn investment agreement to start Lankan ops

LINK

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Sri Lanka In Focus-NEWS BLOG

Unknown said...

@sithma,
Call again 1243 and see. The answer will be somthing diffrent. Try 2555555 (SLT sales) also. There answers are not consistened. Hope they come out with something good so that there will be some compitition.

Nalin Kiing said...

Podiman

If you know SLT's answers are not consistened, why are believing their ADSL office package answer and post it here and try to mislead the people?

sithma said...

Dear friends, these are some more info I have gatherd over the web as per them ......
Dont try to compare the IPTV with DTH. IPTV is a interactive Tv .Even we do not have to worry about "Rain Fade". i.e. it will transmitted over Cables (Copper/ Optical fiber) where as DTH is through Ku band. If you receive transmission through C band this problem (rain fade)happens in minimum, (what I have experienced.) Also note that the IPTV would change the whole landscape of the TV industry bringing in the Interactive part where the customer has a choice of when/where he wants to watch the movie or Live TV . Suppose if you missed your favourite TV programme of two programmes are relay in same hour you can view one on live next by TSTV. How wonderful!! .You deside what to be watch at what time and not by the TV Station!!!

lahiru said...

i don't what happen to dtv.three set planes before i get auto activated again.i watched hbo,hbo sin,hbo family,cenemax,hbo hitz,hollmark,ten sports,neo sports,pogo in free

online said...

I too face same problem lahiru from yesterday night National Geographic,Discovery,History & Animail planet set plan auto activated for me i didnt activate this set plan.

TechnoGuy Sri Lanka said...

@ Lahiru, Sharma
You should have posted your comments in the Dialog TV Forum, not here.

Anyway, I believe Dialog may be running a promotion where certain set plans or all channels are unlocked to customers for a limited time. Are you using set plans with the Rs100 Package?

LKDOOD said...

Sri Lanka State Own Television - Rupavahini under Military Control ?

LINK

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Sri Lanka In Focus-NEWS BLOG

LKDOOD said...

Asia-Pacific will Outpace Europe in IPTV Market Says New RNCOS Report

LINK

Indian TV industry to cross $11.5 billion by 2012: MPA

LINK

LKDOOD said...

Anil Ambani's DTH(Big TV) to beam this month via 100 channels

LINK

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Sri Lanka In Focus-NEWS BLOG

Unknown said...

Neth Fm owners (Asset Radio Broadcasting)will be trying to start a new TV Channel in soon.It named as "W TV" they were planned to create women channel.In the first stage it will be telecast in afternoon for 6 hrs.Mr.Nimal Ekanayake(Former Rupavahini director)will be main part in the programmes.Neth FM CEO Mr.Asanga Jayasooriya will do the marketing Manager part.Chairman also will be neth fm chairman, mr.Nihal senevirathne(hidden businessman with Gov. back)

Sam said...

Radio Eka or Radio one is going to start soon.From toady onwords there saing that new radio Channel is Comming soon & tune to (Fm 104.05).Lats time they didnt say nothing jus play some songs.Songs are good but Sound quality is not good.Can any one tell me wwhere is there transmmiting towers ?

LKDOOD said...

W tv ?

ha ha

letter W is used by channels for women

ex:

# W Network, a Canadian cable channel
# W. Channel, an Australian cable channel

# We: Women's Entertainment
American cable channel

no wonder Asset Radio is copying the letter W


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Sri Lanka In Focus-NEWS BLOG

Unknown said...

104.5 fm "Radio Eka" broadcast from Bambalapitiya.Towers located between Swarnawahini & Sath FM head office.

LKDOOD said...

Sri Lanka's Caribbean tour live on Ten Sports

LINK


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Sri Lanka In Focus-NEWS BLOG

LKDOOD said...

Neo Sports spices up cricket

LINK


DishTV now in cars

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Sri Lanka In Focus-NEWS BLOG

LKDOOD said...

Anil Ambani group(BIG TV) to launch 20 TV channels

LINK


India set to relax limits on foreign DHT ownership

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Sri Lanka In Focus-NEWS BLOG

LKDOOD said...

Tata Sky changes ad-revenue model

LINK


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Sri Lanka In Focus-NEWS BLOG

Sam said...

What is going to Happen ABC ?

Any one no the launching date of Radio Eka

Sam said...

New tamil Fm chhanel is on air it's tele casting only for Rajarata & other area's. not for colombo & south people .The station is owned by MBC Network Currently using Y fm Frequency's
99.1

Sam said...

Correction :-
Telecasting from midnight ( iam not sure) pls correct some one

Rasika said...

This FM channel called Velichchi FM. broadcasting only to North & East from 9.30pm to 6.30am on the follwing day. they are using the same frequency which broadcast Y FM to Rajarata area.
Hi FM, you said that ABC will start their transmission on 27th and will start testing on 20th but we can't see any thing on this regard as they have not started testing yet. anyhow they have relaunched their Sooriyan FM website last week and this gives us a sign that they are going start transmission soon. Mr.FM if you know anything on this regard please

Nalin Kiing said...

There is no more ABC name. Hiru, Sooriyan, Sun and Shaa FM's Transmissions will recommence in under the name Hiru Media Networks.

Unknown said...

When will hiru fm begin?

LKDOOD said...

Multivision allowed to transmit

LINK


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Sri Lanka In Focus-NEWS BLOG

sithma said...

Hi Good News
SLT to launch IPTV Pilot Project next week ??? Admn Is it true???

sithma said...

Anyone knows that what is the channel transmit on the top of Diyawannaoya Residence Kotte

Rasika said...

Sithma, I think it is Isura FM

Unknown said...

Hiru FM New AGM Mr.Sudewa Hettiarachchi & anothr guy went to meet mrs.Chintha wicremasinghe(welknown astrologer live in Boralesgamuwa) and fix the dates as 27th March to start Hiru.She is a media communnicater and she send to this gossip to other media.Mr.Sudewa did this lie to follow some stratergy to media market.
see more.........
http://www.medialk.890m.com/

sithma said...

SLT IPTV on free trials from 31st March in Colombo with TSTV and VOD Etc..in Colombo

lilacsky said...

I totally support Channel C, being a lover of original Sri Lankan music. I believe this strengthens the Sri Lankan music industry. I am a fan of Delon Rap Artist , hopefully I'll see a lot of him in this channel. He's a Sri Lankan American artist who has a great beat and raps about struggle in Sri Lanka.