MUMBAI: DEN Networks CEO SN Sharma has set a target of converting 10 per cent of its standard definition (SD) subscribers to high definition (HD) within a year.
Sharma, speaking on an analysts call, said that DEN currently has 7.4 million paid digital subscribers, but only about 100,000 of those view HD transmissions.
He further noted that the price of HD set top boxes (STBs) has seen a decline from Rs 4,000-5,000 to Rs 1,500-1,600 and that should help in increasing the HD penetration.
Reports said that DEN has locked in content deals with most broadcasters with the increase being less than 15 per cent. The MSO’s content deals are valid till April 2019 barring that of Star which will come up for renewal in nine months by January. DEN has also resolved its dispute with ZEEL.
“All these deals have been signed up and are firmly in the place. The content cost increase is in the range of less than 15 per cent,” Sharma said.
He also said that all the deals will come up for renewal next year as agreements with Sony and IndiaCast will expire in March 2019. Star and Zee are now signing only one-year deals.
“So as of now our content deals are all frozen till March and April next year. By then all of them become due for renewal,” he noted.
The deals with broadcasters are consolidated and include both standard definition (SD) and HD channels.
Currently, the DEN strategy is to replace older STBs as they run out of warranty, as well as to use new HD STBs as the cable network expands into new areas.
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