Ronnie Screwvala, CEO, UTV: I think DTH is being blown out of proportion. The maximum subscription possible is maybe 1 million subscribers in 3 to 5 years. That's nothing compared to the universe of 20 million cable & satellite (c&s) homes. Even in the US, DTH is present, but cable is as strong as ever. I'd be surprised if Star banks heavily on DTH.
Amit Khanna, CEO, Plus Channel: DTH will be the first step towards Convergence as technology improves. With the falling costs of computer hard drives, it will be possible to have mammoth computer servers located anywhere in the world, through which the viewer can enjoy a two-way interaction. You will literally be able to programme your television to show the mix that you want. Every consumer will be a programming director!
Sam Balsara, CMD, Madison DNBMP: I've not been able to comprehend the potential of DTH in India. With c&s penetration so strong at rock-bottom rates, why should even affluent households go in for DTH?
Kunal Dasgupta, CEO, SET: I have no doubt Murdoch will make it a success in India. He will probably price it competitively and take away at least 25 per cent of the cable market (5 million homes out of 20 million). Zee can't do it because they're not ready with their satellite.
Sailesh Dave, CEO, In House Productions: Indians adopt technology fast. DTH will succeed but the size of the pie is limited—finally there are only so many eyeballs and so many hours in a day. Murdoch will make it work in India because he knows the importance of having a presence in this region, he knows about the power of the media, the clout. It's not just about money.
