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Sun Direct

Type	Joint venture between * Sun Network 80% * Astro Group 20%
Founded	2007
Headquarters	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Area served	National
Key people	Kalanithi Maran (Managing Director and CEO)
Industry	Media
Products	Direct-To-Home service & Satellite Television
Parent	Sun Network, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India and Astro Group,Malaysia.
Website	www.sundirect.in

Sun Direct is a DTH satellite television provider in India, using MPEG-4 digital compression technology, transmitting using INSAT 4B at 93.5°E.^[1]. It is the country's first MPEG 4 technology DTH service provider.

[edit] History

Sun Direct is a DTH service in India headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Sun Direct is a 80:20 joint venture between the Maran family and the Astro Group of Malaysia. Sun Direct TV was registered in February 16, 2005.^[2] However the failed launch of INSAT 4C resulted in a lack of transponders, delaying the launch.^[3] The service was finally launched on December 2007 after availability of transponders from INSAT 4CR.^[4][5]

Sun Direct offered subscribers Dish and Set-top box for free and basic monthly plan as low as Rs. 75(1.4 USD approximately). Because of this it achieved 1 million subscribers in 200 days^[6]

Sun Direct is also the first to provide High-definition television services in India.^[7]

[edit] Rapid Growth

Because of the lowest pricing of any DTH in India Sun Direct spread rapidly all over the country. On December Sun Direct was launched in Mumbai and announced its pan India launch. By 2009 it became leading DTH provider with 3 million subscribers.^[7] This makes it 4th largest DTH service provider of India.

[edit] Technology

Sun Direct is a pioneer in technology, it was the first DTH provider in India to provide MPEG 4 technology even in its debut. It is also the first one to introduce add-on packs on monthly subscription. It is the first and currently the only DTH provider in the country to offer High-definition television services.^[7]

[edit] Launch of HD services

With the DTH service is catching up in India, Sun Direct gone a step forward by providing HD services, while other service providers are still in MPEG 2 technology. In April 2009 Sun Direct officially launched its HD service in India. Since there is no HD channel in India Sun Direct provides two 24 hour HD channels in Tamil and Telugu. A HD channel in Hindi is also planned.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Sun Direct DTH Service Blog
• Indian DTH Community Forums
• Complete Channels list of Sun Direct