Thread: Is the Indian Market Ready for IPTV?

There has been a tremendous change in the Indian Television Industry. Once the Indian TV industry was completely monopolized by the government run channels and with the advent of private channels cable TV entered the market to provide the Indian consumers with budget television viewing pleasure. Indian viewers who were used to the local regional channel and the national channel loved the luxury of hundred plus private channels at affordable prices. After this came the high quality Direct To Home Connections. Because of the prevailing competition, they too had to keep their prices in par with the cable TV rates if not lower. In this scenario whether IPTV will have any great impact in the Indian market is a million dollar question.
The Indian market is not yet ready for the IPTV yet to create enough buzz because the percentage of internet users in India is considerably lesser when compared to the other developed countries where IPTV has started replacing the other systems. This also gives people the luxury of TV on the move.
One of the stumbling blocks for the entry of IPTV in the Indian market is the internet connection speed. India still experiences poor internet connectivity speeds in many cities and towns. Only selective cities have fiber optic networks and we are still waiting for the 3G network.
However, once the industry should have all the infrastructure in place, IPTV has a great scope in the Indian market. Soon major telecom providers including BSNL and Airtel will start bundling IPTV services with their data and voice services. Indian market has just opened itself up for ‘video on demand’ concept and once the consumers taste this luxury, IPTV is bound to take over the TV industry in India. IPTV does not simply reproduce the television experience of the cable network and DTH, it goes one-step further by giving the users 100% freedom to choose the programs that they would like to view.
India has always been a fertile ground for the mass media industry whether it is movies or television shows, Indian viewers fondly welcome all types of entertainments. It is also open to the latest technologies. The increasing number of mobile users in India is a clear indication how the latest technology can easily reach out to even the remotest parts of the country. One of the reasons why DTH has become very popular in India is that it reaches where the cable network cannot reach. If we have reliable high-speed internet connection through out the country, then nothing can stop IPTV from becoming one of the most popular modes of viewing TV.
Factors that need to be remembered with regard to the success or failure of IPTV in India over DTH or cable TV is the literacy rate and secondly, affordability. Until these two factors are addressed, IPTV will be limited to the elite and there are no two ways about it. Until then, we cannot expect it to be as successful as the other tools and gadgets that we are using today.

IPTV is exciting , but i wont buy it as i dont believe BSNL or any Indian provider can provide even decent service

It would be nice if they can provide descent BB Internet first .

No not at all Indian market is not ready for IPTV lots problem is present in IPTV
at first it's not cheap as local cable or DTH specially in India lots of middle class people never wants to increase the expenses. Another thing there are lot of technical equipment is needed(SED or ADSL2) this is all unnecessary for common man what ever he/she is literate or not.In my home we are using normal cable line more than 13 year and my line is never off continuously 24 hour(still i can't remember last when i face trouble) if any problem was present then it solved by local cable operator within a few hour but in case of BB i have faced lot of problem within a few month and for IPTV also if any problem arise then it will take long time to perfect the line.Even DTH is fail to make business in my local area and no chance for IPTV.

Originally Posted by Admin

Factors that need to be remembered with regard to the success or failure of IPTV in India over DTH or cable TV is the literacy rate and secondly, affordability. Until these two factors are addressed, IPTV will be limited to the elite and there are no two ways about it.

May be somebody is literate and he/she can afford IPTV also but nobody wants to spend a single penny without any reason because dvd quality picture is a story still frame is the real fact at that moment

The biggest problem which they face is the cable connectivity as well as the speed. Internet penetration is very low is india and the speed is very very bad. It needs a very big infrastructure upgrade to things to work out.