Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Interesting Developments

Many new developments have taken place on CBNsat over this last weekend. Channel Number One which was named as "CBNsat" but used to carry promotional material has been renamed as "Dialog TV". Even though the channel name has been changed the promotional material still carries the promotions under the name "CBNsat". The promotions being held at Singer Mega outlets also go as "CBNsat". The rebranding may be gradually done over a period of time but as of now we are unable to confirm anything regarding a planned rebranding.

In addition several customers have received letters announcing the take over by Asset Media and instructions to make all payments to Asset Media.

It also seems that certain new customers of CBNsat are able to view an EPG of certain channels with programming information for seven days. According to reports that we are receiving this facility will be extended to all CBNsat customers by March. However we hear that at the moment EPG for existing customers works only for HBO, Cinemax, VH1 and Nick. The AXN, HBO Signature EPG is not working anymore. It is better if CBNsat is able to implement the EPG with current and next programme for all channels available until they are able to update the decoder software and give the detailed EPG which some new customers are getting. A newsletter is also in the pipeline and should be available in the near future.

23 comments:

bank_dude said...

This blog is now becoming a deserted place. No frequent updates like ealier. It seems to me now that our fellow bloggers are enjoying CBNsat or Dialog TV. Though the management changes the brand name to Dialog TV, for us it is CBNsat, the cable tv that we backed up for 6 months.

Lightning_Struck_Tower said...

Off Topic:
2/6/2007 4:16:38 PM An accidental explosion at BMICH premises - Colombo
An accidental explosion took place at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) premises, in Colombo few minutes ago this afternoon, Tuesday the 06th of February.

National hospital sources said that 14 people received injuries due to the explosion and three of them are in critical condition.

It is also reported that security forces personnel were also among the injured.

Unknown said...

People will move to LBN for the simple reason of cost and Neo sports,If CBNsat doesnt understand that this is a cricket crazy country,They are fucked up.Neo Sports and Ten should be on the platform immedietly,And Shirantha Herath being an ardent sports fan has iplimented the plan to perfection,and all new subscribers who were in two minds will move to LBN with the launch of Neo,Al Jazeera etc.

Even the market penatration of TATA has increased due to the cost effectiveness and having NEO SPORTS in it.

Even comet cable is testing AL JAZEERA

MANIL said...

This shows that the marketing staff or whoever secures content for CBNsat doesnt know the subscriber taste or a damn about quality sports content.

If muhunthan was at the helm,We will be watching NEO,TEN,ALJAZEERA or whatever,a long way back.

Over to you,The subscriber unite

Sanjeev Thurusinghe said...

New channel line up which LBN have.

Neo sports
Neo +
Al Jazeera
NHK - jAPAN
Arirang - Korea
TV 5 - France
DW - Germany

ONE - Dubai(English Entertainment)

with DISNET & TOON DISNEY.

Sanjeev Thurusinghe said...

Ravin, what you say is absolute correct. For cbn getting the transponder is not the problem. But all channels when they uplink they have to pay a massive amount for the satellite operator. (Who ever may be?}. All local channels coming up with cbn also have some practical problems. In their programme line up they used to broadcast foreign programs. Due to the rights fact & legal contains they | local operators} might reluctant to sign up with cbn.

Unknown said...

I have to agree with SANJU,CBNsat doesnt seem to think on the customer perseptive and neither are they knowledgble on the contenent providers,Mind you what we are enjoying at the moment is,what was secured by MUHUNTHAN,The new guys responsible for sigining up channels seem to be ill informed and doesnt seem to have any knowledge of the subject.

What hush said is applicable even to TATA SKY and just compare their pricing with CBNsat,and NEO gives the channel at per subscriber basis and you are talking about TATA with over 200,000 connections and CBN with less than 15000,

bank_dude said...

I agree with Dude. As far as pricing is concerned, CBN has highest pay tv pricing structure. We all agree on that and we all want them to revise the channel allocation and pricing. Further, what we are enjoying right now is what Muhunthan secured. I think Dialog is not very much agressive on DTH. First they must realize that the strategies adopted for mobile phone industry is not align with DTH. People do buy mobile connections to send SMSes and take a call on and off. But whenever we buy DTH we do watch it more often. further unlike mobile, we have to pay a 17000 installation fee a higher fixed amount for DTH. Therefore we do want good quality channels to watch.

Sanjeev Thurusinghe said...

It’s very interesting to have some meaning full comments about the cable television industry in our country. Whatever excuses shown in these matters is irrelevant when it comes to the services provided by the companies. In Srilanka pay television market penetration is less then .05 percent where comparing to certain developed areas in India where its reach 80 percent.

If the market develops (apart from the competitive activities these companies should get to gather & develop the market). There will be a definitely a growth & price reductions will be on the cards. We have to understand one main point here only way to cut down the cost in this segments the number of subscribers.

When its to the channels entire broadcasters were targeting the Indian segment, they are not interested in our market. In that scenario what ever they broadcast either we like it or not forced to watch the programs.

It’s CABLE or SATALITE or MMDS end of the day service & value for money is finally matters. Still in our country in fixed phone connection customers wait for the slt . That’s the loyalty towards the service provider. CBN / LBN/ COMET give a value service for the money.

bank_dude said...

Machan Kalu,

umba blog eka balanawanam me comments umbalage lokkanta pennapan. Machan umbala anaganna yanawa wage mata hithenne ikmanata pricing structure/ channel allocation wenas kale nathnam.

Vishkid said...

Well it does not really matter whether we get FTA content or premium content - as long as they are good entertainment.

However we do not want every bloody channel under the sun but would rather hv the quality few that we hv requested and that was promised (of sorts).

What is happening here is Dialog seems very slow in moving its ass or it does not care about customer/market requirements.

They hv always followed Celltel, Mobitel etc in launching campaigns and services (my5, reload etc are all copies from other networks) but when they launched they hv done so far in style and better than the competition (partly due to their size).

It seems that they might be following the same method with CBNSat. But this is not mobile networking and the dynamics are different.

The bottom line is they don't seem to be so intent on giving what the subscribers want until the competition forces them to do so.

I remain loyal to CBNSat till some one with a better deal comes along (not Dish with all the crap and I don't hv LBN in my area) then I'll ditch CBN and chose what's best for me.

We hv a fairly good DTH provider in CBN, but if it refuses to mve forwards - what can we do. But I'll give it some more time.

Vishkid said...

One problem I see is that with the current (not-so-well-thought) packaging structure and pricing and content - CBN might NOT attract enough customers to achieve the scale of operation needed to lower prices and bring in more channels.

With the added possibility of existing customers leaving, it will be a BIG problem for remaining ones (like us). It's a catch 22 situation and I agree that is an extremely pessimistic view but it is also a a big possibility.

Is CBN attracting new customers like it used to in lat April? If so there is hope.

riky said...

Hush,Umba hari machang,Dialog coporate customers lata,30% discount ekak denawa,Eka thamai 11500/-.Channels add wenakota machang Feb unthima ho March mula withara wei.Methana katha karana channels godak arang thiyanne,DISNEY,DW,AL JAZEERA,STAR PAKAGE wagema TEN,NEO th work out wenna puluwan.

Poddak ivasapan machang,mei okkoma dei,Ehema deela subscribers la wedi wenakota price reduction eka eiy

bank_dude said...

Kalu machan dan umbe waraya adahas prakash kireemata :)

SLP said...

Guys around this a few things,

Dialog will officially goes to DIalogTV on this 10th and i suppose this new transponder things and other channels may be planning with that day onwards.

but i suggest one thing to whole CBN management, Subscriber unites and nessasary responsibles to rename the platform as DBNSat rather than DialogTV.

Since which inherits the nature of dialog and the existing system with also maintaining the mighty DIALOG BROADBAND

upto u guys, think b4 jump.

bank_dude said...

Guys can you remember that Neth had TV licenses and they were telling that they will launch that channel on Feb. May be Dialog may launch Neth TV as Dialog TV.

Sanjeev Thurusinghe said...

Todays magistrate court hearing has taken a different stance, not going to give the details. Find it pretty bad news on the cards.

Lightning_Struck_Tower said...

wtf is the magistrate's hearing for? I dont think anyone can touch cbnsat as long as dialog owns it.

As for DishTV vs CBNsat, it's not justifiable to compare those two.

DishTV has been in operation for over 5 years, it has over 10 mil subscribers and has almost all of the channels available for south asian region.

CBNsat has been in operation for nearly 2 years (6 months offline), raped by the authorities, has over 20k subscribers but still has over 20 premium channels.

As of now Dishtv content is sperior to that of CBNsat (specially with the exclusive US beams) but given the time and transponders, who knows, cbnsat may do wonders.

Lisura said...


ITN is back on CBNSat from last evening !!!!

Dialog TV will be launched officialy on 10th Feb !!!!

Lisura said...



CHECK OUT THE NEW DIALOG TV SITE

VISIT : www.cbnsat.com
or www.dialog.lk/en/tv/

PROGRAM GUIDE COULD ALSO BE DOWNLOADED FORM THIS SITE !!!!

Sanjeev Thurusinghe said...

Hush, ravin, LST,

I mentioned yesterday what’s happened at magistrate courts, what will happen or what shout happen I am not concern. The reality is different guys. Let stick to our basics. Next hearing is on 14th of Feb.

Lisura said...



NEW HELPLINE FOR DIALOG TV SUBSCRIBERS :

0777 679679

Unknown said...

Dear sanju1975,
Can you please tell me how you are gonna make payments for your dishTV connection? There is a problem of payong with a local credit card right? Please inform!

Thanks