Way back in October 2003, Microsoft Corp. and Reliance Infocomm Ltd. announced that the two companies would work together to jointly create, test and deliver next-generation Internet Protocol (IP)-based television services using an IPTV solution being developed by Microsoft TV. After the announcement, the project has been kept a closely guarded secret but I expect Reliance to start offering its IPTV service in select cities by the end of this year. Reliance Infocomm already boasts of 60,000 route kilometres of pan-India fibre optic backbone which is more than capable of providing IPTV to a huge chunk of the population.
IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television and it uses a single line to deliver programming to the television. The same line will triple up as a telephone connection, an Internet Connection and a cable connection. Just like cable or DTH (Direct to Home), IPTV uses a set-top box that allows customers to cruise hundreds of TV channels and order movies and other shows anytime through video-on-demand. People who are interested in knowing more about what IPTV has to offer can have a look at the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition page.
If Reliance can price it right, IPTV is going to solve a lot of problems - Firstly, it will reduce the multiplicities of connections (and even devices) at home - we will just need to pay one company instead of three or even four separate entities. Next, we won't need to bunk school/college/office/family functions to catch our favourite programme, it will be available on demand which means I can watch it when I have time to spare. I read somewhere that Reliance has already bought out most of the old Hindi movie libraries, which means one can watch any movie of any genre/time period at any time by just paying a small amount.
More importantly, if Reliance can extend the technique of "Digital Distribution of movies to Cinema halls" to homes, it can seriously dent the Pirates. Imagine having access to the DVD quality print of the latest movie releases at home, at the same time when it gets released in theatres. You pay per view of the movie, much like the CD/DVD rentals and the charges get added to your monthly IPTV bill. Simultaneous movie release on IPTV and theatres that can get a bit controversial, but if the Industry has to survive piracy it must look at additional sources of revenue like this. This is something I firmly believe in, if Mr. Anil Ambani or any senior Reliance official is reading this, please give it a thought as it has the potential to revolutionize the Indian entertainment Industry.
Eagerly awaiting the launch of IPTV in India :-)
IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television and it uses a single line to deliver programming to the television. The same line will triple up as a telephone connection, an Internet Connection and a cable connection. Just like cable or DTH (Direct to Home), IPTV uses a set-top box that allows customers to cruise hundreds of TV channels and order movies and other shows anytime through video-on-demand. People who are interested in knowing more about what IPTV has to offer can have a look at the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition page.
If Reliance can price it right, IPTV is going to solve a lot of problems - Firstly, it will reduce the multiplicities of connections (and even devices) at home - we will just need to pay one company instead of three or even four separate entities. Next, we won't need to bunk school/college/office/family functions to catch our favourite programme, it will be available on demand which means I can watch it when I have time to spare. I read somewhere that Reliance has already bought out most of the old Hindi movie libraries, which means one can watch any movie of any genre/time period at any time by just paying a small amount.
More importantly, if Reliance can extend the technique of "Digital Distribution of movies to Cinema halls" to homes, it can seriously dent the Pirates. Imagine having access to the DVD quality print of the latest movie releases at home, at the same time when it gets released in theatres. You pay per view of the movie, much like the CD/DVD rentals and the charges get added to your monthly IPTV bill. Simultaneous movie release on IPTV and theatres that can get a bit controversial, but if the Industry has to survive piracy it must look at additional sources of revenue like this. This is something I firmly believe in, if Mr. Anil Ambani or any senior Reliance official is reading this, please give it a thought as it has the potential to revolutionize the Indian entertainment Industry.
Eagerly awaiting the launch of IPTV in India :-)
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