India’s first Direct To Network cable service ‘Jainhits’ starts this November

JAINHITS to invest Rs 1500 crore over the period of five years in the Headend In The Sky (HITS) platform

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | August 30, 2012

Noida Software Technology Park Limited (NSTPL), a JAIN TV group company, along with Motorola, Intelsat and KIT digital, has announced the launch of India’s First Direct To Network (DTN) cable service – JAINHITS. JAINHITS will mobilize the investment of over Rs 1500 crore over the period of five years in the Headend In The Sky (HITS) platform, with strategic support from its partners to deliver affordable digital service to existing cable operators and MSOs and help them meet the Government’s National Digitization Mandate. Motorola is the end to end technology partner, KIT digital is the solution architect and managed services partner, and Intelsat is the satellite provider for the JAINHITS service. JAINHITS service will be available pan India to cable operators and MSOs by November 2012.

HITS is a satellite-based platform for distribution of digital TV signals to cable operators. In the first phase, JAINHITS will offer 200 standard definition and high definition service; HBB TV (Interactive TV) and broadband. In the second phase, it will be scaled to offer 500 channels including 30 HD channels and value added services for e-commerce, education, healthcare, financial services, gaming, and on-demand content etc. Within one year of launch, the platform will evolve into a multi-screen service.

J. K. Jain, Chairman, Jain TV Group said, ‘­­­instead of  investing our energies and money in building multiple digital headends, Cable Operators should join hands towards creating the HITS partnership into a Federation of Cable Operators that will  jointly create India’s unique new generation network to carry entertainment, education and information across the length and breadth of India . Let JAINHITS Federation of Cable Operators lead India to a cheerful digital revolution.

Commenting on the launch, Ankur Jain, Managing Director, JAINHITS, said, “We thank all our partners who have worked with us to bring India’s first Direct to Network service. Today, there are about 7 DTH operators, 60,000 Cable Operators and about 6000 Headend operators who connect over 120 million TV Homes. JAINHITS will be the only national cable platform that can help achieve digitization within stipulated deadline. With JAINHITS the national digitization infrastructure expenditure on network can reduce from Rs 30,000 crore to 1,500 crore. We will be operating the latest technology in DVB S2 MPEG 4 quality over satellite followed by DVBC transmission for cable. These technologies are more suited for broadcast than IPTV and DTH as they are weather proof, capacity efficient and can run 1000 channels unlike DTH and IPTV.”

Commenting on the partnership, Kevin Keefe, VP & GM-Sales, Asia Pacific - Motorola Mobility said, “It is an interesting time in India as the country gears up to have digital cable revolution. As the global leader, we are excited to be part of this revolution and bring in all our experience in making sure the Indian consumers get the best TV viewing experience there is anywhere in the world.”

As previously announced, NSTPL signed a multi-year, multi-transponder agreement for C-band capacity on Intelsat 902 at 62 degree East. The company plans to use the capacity to create a white label, turnkey channel package (JAINHITS) that can be received and distributed by multiple system and local cable operators throughout the country.

Stephane Thibault, Managing Sales Director, Media Services, Asia – Intelsat, said, “India has a flourishing cable distribution market and millions of people in India watch TV via cable. With cable going digital soon in the country it makes sense to implement HITS technology. Intelsat’s satellites and video services enable new and innovative platforms that can efficiently reach consumers in regions of the world such as India.”

Nicole Dixon, Managing Director, APAC – KIT digital, said, “Media landscape in India is changing and the JAINHITS project is among our most exciting and challenging engagements. We are happy to be a strategic partner and sole system integrator and solution architect for the HITS platform, which we believe will transform digital TV distribution in the country and pave the way for an IP-based video delivery system to benefit all.”

She further said, “KIT digital will supply an E2E solution for a multiplex service, distributing over 500 channels to cable operators across India. We will be working with technology partners Motorola and Intelsat to manage delivery of the complete solution which we have specifically designed to support a seamless expansion to future OTT/ IPTV services. KIT digital will also provide 24/7 managed services to monitor and maintain all aspects of the HITS platform.”

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