Telkom Indonesia Launches 'Groovia TV' IPTV service

Saturday, June 4th, 2011
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Telkom Launch “Groovia TV”, First Interactive Television In Indonesia

JAKARTA — Indonesia will have a new television service by the presence of Groovia TV, The 1st IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) service in Indonesia from PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk.(Telkom) [IDX:TLKM; NYSE:TLK; LSE:TKIA] which today is launched commercially in Jakarta. Commercial launching of Groovia TV as the first IPTV service in Indonesia is a Telkom’s effort to strengthen media and edutainment business portfolio and at the same time to revitalize cable network.

This Telkom’s new service is different from other paid TV services. Groovia TV has various interactive features that have not been provided before in any paid television platforms in Indonesia.
Aside from the program channels of premium television, Groovia TV has also various features enabling the customers to record, pause and rewind their favourite TV programs. Therea are also facilities of video on demand (VoD), game on line and even karaoke.

IPTV is a service platform which is a further step of multimedia interaction now available. Broadband technology supporting Groovia TV enables availability of convergent service in the form of television broadcast, video, audio, text, graphics, data and telephone channelled to subscribers via IP (Internet Protocol) network.

President Director of Telkom, Rinaldi Firmansyah, says, Groovia TV is not only television content distributed via internet, but also a synergy between internet interactive capability and web, with television media distributed over Telkom’s broadband network service. He expects this service is able to meet the people’s wants to have a new experience in enjoying television program.

Groovia TV enables television viewers not to be passive in watching the broadcast, but also active in selecting programs as desired. “Other paid TVs are passive, but Groovia TV is interactive so it is suitable with smart television instrument known as connected TV which is now starting to be marketed by well-known television makers,” explains Rinaldi.

By Live TV and VoD program, Groovia TV supports quality of standard definition (SDTV) and high definition (HDTV). In the future Groovia TV is not only able to be watched through television set itself, but also through computer or notebook and smartphone because of the three screen features available.

To support this service, Telkom contimue to increase capacity of access, that is, to improve broadband access and to add speed of true broadband access. Rinaldi says, investment of IPTV development absorbs an amount of Rp 50 to Rp 100 billion, including expanding IPTV platform, excluding investment for expansion of true broadband access network. “In 2010, capacity of true broadband access has just achieved 21 pecents and will be increased to be 85 percents in 2015,” explains Rinaldi.

Rinaldi says that up to six months ahead starting from this June, Telkom expect to get 300 thousands of Groovia TV subscribers in Jakarta. In the preliminary stage, this product will be developed in Jakarta territory while to cover other big cities in Indonesia, totally, it will take around 3 years.

“This is to ensure service quality because to support this Groovia TV, subscribers’ access network shall be able to serve broadband access with the speed of 6 Mbps. We will prioritize quality,” continues Rinaldi. Through good synergy among group members, Telkom is very sure they can create new subscribers and target 1 million of IPTV subscribers within 3 years or in the coming 2015.

“We are optimistic we are able to achieve the figure, even more as the paid TV subscribers in Indonesia are still small compared with neighbor country, Malaysia, which paid TV has achieved 30 percents and in India already 80 percents,” explains Rinaldi.

That is the reason Telkom consider this IPTV potential is so big although the segment targeted is more directed to that of premium or high level of subscribers. For Telkom, Groovia TV is the first step in operating multimedia application with high interaction over true broadband access network. IPTV offers more interactive, easy, comfortable, and complete digital experience for Telkom Group subscribers.

Welcoming commercial launching of Groovia TV, Elvizar K.H., President Director of TelkomVision, explains that by the launch of Groovia TV using this IPTV platform, TelkomVision more confirms its position as the leading player in paid TV industry with the most complete and innovative services. As a customer-oriented company, TelkomVision always tries to give the best for Indonesian people. “We are sure Groovia TV is able to meet the need and life style of dynamic Indonesian people,” confirms Elvizar. TelkomVision is a member of Telkom Group operating Groovia TV.

Elvizar further adds, launching of Groovia TV is fully supported by content providers involved in this program by providing stands/booths sponsored, among other things, HBO, Max, HBO Signature, HBO Hits, HBO Family, Warner TV, Discovery Channel, TLC, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Science, Home & Health, Diva Universal, Syfy Universal, Universal, Celestial, Disney Junior, Cartoon Network, CNN, AXN, AXN Beyond, Animax, Sony Entertainment, One, Nick Jr, Nickelodeon, MTV, History, Crime Investigation, Bio, DW-TV Asia, Kix, Thrill, MGM and Li TV.

Through tagline “Groove up your Life!”, Groovia TV is expected to be able to provide quality, stylish, modern, variative and recent products and contents so that it supports its users to be positive, dynamic and leading generation.