STAR PLUS, STAR ONE and STAR NEWS

[Guesst925XTU]

I know DirecTV carries STAR PLUS, STAR ONE and STAR NEWS.

But my question is: How do I get these channels?

There's very little information on the DirecTV website about these channels.

[Stevo]

I believe they're off the 95 sat, and require a second dish?

[Guesst925XTU]

I believe they're off the 95 sat, and require a second dish?

Even though they're so close to 101?

[simon]

I think you require a 36 inch round dish to get Hindi Direct

[Geronimo]

You cant be pointed six degrees off and srill get a signal.

[swing]

In India, Star Plus is the leading cable network. India doesn't have much in terms of over the air networks, except a state run channel and some regional local channels. With Sony Entertainment and Zee Television, they are the three top hindi channels in India. Unfortunately for American viewers, they will have to choose one or other provider (Dish or DirecTV), for which set of channels they want, unless they are willing to spend alot of money for both. For South Asian Hindi speaking customers, think of it as if CBS and ABC HBO being on one provider, and Fox and NBC Starz being on the other. Though, Dish has an edge, as many South Asian customers have Dish and will stick with Dish and can recommend the service by word of mouth, where DirecTV is getting in the game late.

Star is owned by Murdoch, who owns controlling interest in DirecTV. I have heard Murdoch use brass knuckle tactics against some competitors, in other countries. Given that these channels are all done by exclusivity, I wonder if DirecTV will ever attempt to get exclusivity of Sony Entertainment and Zee Television (and cricket PPV), from Echostar. I doubt Ergen would allow that to go under the radar though.

[Guesst925XTU]

You cant be pointed six degrees off and srill get a signal.

I have a Phase3 dish and get 101/110/119 - that's 18 degrees.

[ramcm7]

Star is owned by Murdoch, who owns controlling interest in DirecTV. I have heard Murdoch use brass knuckle tactics against some competitors, in other countries. Given that these channels are all done by exclusivity, I wonder if DirecTV will ever attempt to get exclusivity of Sony Entertainment and Zee Television (and cricket PPV), from Echostar. I doubt Ergen would allow that to go under the radar though.

Let's hope the cricket contract comes back to D*. (It actually was with USSB, another service provider on the D* dish ,way back when.) As Sky Sports is part of the News Corp family, I was hoping we would see those channels added. Even if international matches are blacked out if E* retains the PPV for a while, County matches would be available. Let's hope.

:coolglass "Bowling, Shane."

[samuel_m]

Hello:

I was interested in learning more about these new South Asian programming options, but it has been tough finding out any info on these channels, let alone where they can be found...

Currently, I have two Sony SAT HD200's receivers, with a Triple LNB dish. I currently get Total Choice Plus with Locals, and the HD Package. Is it really necessary that I purchase and install a second dish in order to receive these 3 channels? Or will a slight degree tilt in my current dish set-up suffice? :confused:

Also, where can these three channels be found on the guide? The DirecTV website doesn't list them nor on my programming guide on my two receivers. If I want to find out specific programming on these channels, where do I go? It says that they consist of two entertainment channels, and one news channel, but what are they showing in any given 24 hour period?

If anyone could shed some light on anyone of what I've just said, I'd really appreciate it. I look forward to hearing from someone soon. Thank you.

-Samuel

[ramcm7]

If anyone could shed some light on anyone of what I've just said, I'd really appreciate it. I look forward to hearing from someone soon. Thank you.

-Samuel

Samuel,
the South Asian and other new International programming (as well as cricket PPV! See other thread: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=35156) is being delivered on the 95 degree satellite. It is a lower powered satellite and requires a bigger dish (30") to acquire the signal. Relatively newer STB's have received upgrades to allow them to recognize the 72.5 and 95 sats, but unless you have them feeding your STB, the guide won't show anything from them. Also note that a new multiswitch will be required, as well. If you are a current D* customer, call the number on their website and see what kind of deal they will make you. I have some old STB's that will not get the upgrade and the rep offerred to swap them out. I don't know if they are offering to swap out the multiswitch, though. Link: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packages/international_services_southasian.jsp

[samuel_m]

Hello:

Thanks for that bit of info Ramcm7. I was able to speak to a CSR at the number they listed on their website and she told me that I would need a new dish in order to pull in the signal, which she said was being sent from Hong Kong. The size of the dish that is required is 36" which is twice as big as the one that I have right now. By any chance, do you happen to know where I could view a pic of this new dish? I need to get a better sense of just how big this thing is! Also when you say it is at "95" what direction in the sky is that generally (i.e. North, South). I need to know if I can even pull in this signal because I live in a somewhat hilly area.

Now, when you say that newer STB's have received updates to view these channels, how can I find out for sure? As I mentioned in my earlier post, I own two Sony SAT HD200 receivers. Both of my units were updated last week, but I'm not sure if it included an update to view these channels...

Finally, for those of you who are wondering what the costs involved are, the CSR said that since I was a current DirecTV customer, it would cost $150 plus $14.95 for professional installation. However, I would be credited somewhere between $12-$13 a month for 12 months, essentially making the hardware upgrade for free.

-Samuel

[ramcm7]

Sat Location: (click on map for your approximate location.)
http://www.lyngsat.com/tracker/g3c.html

Hardware example:
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?main_cat=2&CAT=&PROD=87CMCOMBO

[SnowFade]

I have a Phase3 dish and get 101/110/119 - that's 18 degrees.

That's because the Phase 3 dish has three focal points...you're actually pointed dead on (or pretty close to dead on) all three simultaneously, not picking up signals from a 18 degree swath.

I dare you to try to pick up all three signals with a round dish. ;)

[simon]

Ramcm,

STAR owns Star Sports ( ESPN-Star Sports ) in south Asia which has exclusive rights of major cricketing events accross the globe, so once they include that in Hindi Direct Dish subscriber will automatically turn to DirecTV.

[ramcm7]

I think Dish has some contract with right of first refusal for many cricket events for North American broadcast, exactly what the terms are, I don't know. If a legal Star Sports broadcast to North America were begun, there would likely be blackouts of any events whose North American broadcast rights are already held by others. (Today's Star Sports Schedule shows the Tennis Masters Series from Houston. This could be blacked out because ESPN likely holds the rights, as it is broadcasting it in the US.) If D* could put together an International Sports package (Star Sports, Super Sport from South Africa, Fox Sports Australia, New Zealand's Rugby Channel, Sky Sports from the UK, etc., most in whom News Corp. has partial ownership), I would be all over it!

[westwood wizard]

The HindiDirect package is an okay start for Directv. However, as I have mentioned before, it is illogical that Murdoch would have re-established Hindi programming on Directv without a hindi movie channel. Dish Network has three ...Zee Cinema, SET Max and B4U movies. These are all part of the Mega Pack and thus Dish Network will not lose South Asian customers to Directv. Does anybody have any inside information of Directv's plans for HindiDirect with respect to adding at least one movie channel such as Star Gold ?

[danzung]

Does any one if any of those indian channels can be viewed in USA by FTA

[quizzer]

Directv has started beaming sahara filmy (movie channel)..probably star gold will follow soon i guess.

Do u guys have any idea about "SouthAsiaWorld" channel?

It used to come on dish before...but there are rumours that it may move to directv in the near future?

Its not coming in dish anymore...

[prashp1]

Cricket Plus is now showing on channel 2024. Enjoy :)

[prashp1]

MTV India is now showing on channel 2006. Enjoy :)

[quizzer]

MTV India is now showing on channel 2006. Enjoy :)

Prash,

This time u r a little late in terms of MTVI..somebody posted that 2 days back

You were the first to post about sahara filmy though.

Any other new channels in the offing?

[quizzer]

The "sound" levels on NDTV channel 2007 have dropped down a lot in the last 2 days...

Is it only for me or has somebody else also have noticed this?

Can you pls update after checking the same?