Talk-of-the-town, Reliance Big TV, part of Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Communication was finally unveiled, at Reliance world outlet today, with not just enough space to accommodate attendees.

In order to be cost and time effective, the company organised a video-conference, connecting various cities of India. The idea was good, but the medium succumbed to the expectation. The video conference headed by president Application, solution and content group, Mahesh Prasad, turned out to be one blooper. Lack of technological knowledge made it impossible for the listeners to hear anything.

Fuuuuuuu-fuuuuuuu, teeerrrr-terrrrrrrr, phuu –phuuuuu, was what we could hear, seemed more like screening of a horror film. Never the less, people joining the conference from Coimbatore were time and again reminded to turn-on the mute button.

Mr. Prasad did explain the worthiness of Big TV DTH (Direct to Home) service, he said our DTH service is based on the world’s most advanced MPEG 4 technology, which is ahead of MPEG 2, used by other DTH operators in India. Which he said will ensure better picture, sound and better transmission. The company expects to launch HDTV channels on its set top box. Reliance was assumed to launch its High definition broadcast channel by September, but now even the sources are clueless about the launch.

Big TV DTH service will offer more than 200 channels, with 32 exclusive movie channels. Prasad said, Big TV is the first Indian DTH service provider to broadcast regional movies. Counting the regional benefits, he said Big TV will be the forth pillar.

Seeing the demo of Big TV, no doubt it looked different from other operators that provide DTH service. Big TV has a display “mosaic” as said by the demonstrator, which enables viewing of various channels at one go, you can scroll and choose without much ado. Also you have the option of sheafing through the channel list, side by side. Each time you select a channel, it displays the show timings of various shows that will be broadcast on the particular channel. 

All this comes with a ‘but’, when you swap your channel, you will have time to make a cup of tea before viewing the other one. It takes three seconds to upload a new channel, which the demonstrator admitted was more than other operators.

It will be made available at 100,000 retail outlets, including Reliance mobile stores and 240 Reliance world stores, across 6,500 town in the country. The start-up package will cost Rs 1,490, including set top box installation. With a charge of Rs500, with your start up package you can have a subscription for 12 months. For three months, 32 movie channels will come complimentary with the start-up package. And later if you wish, you can ask for channels of your choice, same as choosing toppings for your pizza, for a nominal cost of Rs15-20. The installation will take 48-72 hours, after the order is placed.

Well we hope its not as wonderful as Reliance Wimax services. X