Airtel digital TV launches HD set-top box

Airtel digital TV Adds High Definition Excitement to Soccer Fever — Offers ESPN on HD platform for customers.

NEW DELHI — Airtel digital TV- the DTH service from Bharti Airtel – today announced the launch of ‘Airtel digital TV HD’, an enhanced Set Top Box (STB) with capability to showcase High Definition (HD) content to its customers. As part of this, Airtel digital TV HD users get to have ESPN on HD. Airtel will be adding other HD channels to its offering over the next few months.

With this, Airtel digital TV becomes the first DTH player to bring in Digital Dolby Plus Sound experience as part of an HD offering for the Indian DTH market. Airtel digital TV HD will offer viewers crystal clear resolution that is 5 times better than normal, through the combination of the latest MPEG -4 DVB-S2 technology and High Definition signal processing using a powerful 256MB RAM processor. The Dolby Digital Plus feature provides for an enhanced surround sound experience.

Airtel digital TV HD will be available at Rs 2250 for all existing Airtel digital TV customers going in for an upgrade and Rs.2840 onwards for all new customers. Besides all new Airtel digital TV customers can opt for either the Economy Pack (worth Rs.221/month, 155 channels) free for 75 days OR the South Super Value Sports Pack (worth Rs. 144/month,120 channels) free for 100 days.

In keeping with the ongoing sporting fervor, Airtel digital TV also announced the introduction of a Limited Edition ESPN Pack@ Rs.99 for customers to catch sporting action for the next one month on ESPN

Speaking on the occasion, Ajai Puri, Director and CEO – DTH, Bharti Airtel, said, “Innovative technology that adds value to customer experiences is a vital element of our brand endeavors. HD is usually about visual appeal but our consumer insight says that TV is as much an audio medium as it is visual. That is why we have invested in being the first to bring to India the Dolby Digital Plus sound experience in HD Set top boxes. This launch underlines our key strength of understanding consumer needs and using technology to deliver a simple elegant benefit to our valued customers who will experience the next level of TV viewing in India.”

To avail the service, customers can buy the Airtel digital TV HD from any near-by retailer or call 1860-500-6500 at local rates or call 12148 from Airtel mobile phones or send HD as sms to 54325. The launch of HD services comes on the back of a rousing response to the Airtel digital TV recorder, both of which are expected to help Airtel digital TV further consolidate its market leadership of new customer additions over the past 4 quarters.

Airtel digital TV HD has many unique features to customers:

• Most advanced Surround Sound (Dolby Digital Plus)
• Dolby Digital Plus supports up to 7.1 channels of surround sound
• Highest screen resolution at 1080×1920, 16:9 aspect ratio
• HDMI output for HD TVs
• Home theatres to get stadium like surround sound experience with SPDIF output
• Free installation & HDMI cable