Indian satellite television service
Tata Play (stylised as TΛTΛ PLΛY, formerly TΛTΛ | sky) is an Indian direct broadcast satellite (DTH) service provider using MPEG-4 digital compression technology, transmitting using INSAT-4A and GSAT-10 satellite.[1] Incorporated in 2005; it currently offers a total of 601 channels, 495 SD channels and 99 HD channels and services, along with many other value added services. As of March 2020, according to TRAI Tata Play serves 22 million subscribers which is 33.37% of total DTH users in India. Tata Play is the largest DTH service provider in India.
Tata Play entered into an agreement with French firm Technicolor to supply 4K set top boxes from early 2015.[2]
History
Tata Sky was an equity strategic alliance in the nature of a joint venture between the Tata Group and 21st Century Fox, which owned 80% and 20% stakes respectively[3] until 2008, when Singapore-based Temasek Holdings picked up a 10% stake in Tata Play from the Tata Group. Tata Sky was incorporated in 2001, but launched services on 8 August 2006.[4]
Tata Sky's parent company, 21st Century Fox, formerly owned an international group of DTH businesses that include Sky Italia in Italy and Sky UK in the United Kingdom. The company uses the Sky brand under a licence from Sky Group.[5]
Tata Sky partnered with Ericsson to launch the first Video on Demand (VOD) services in India in 2012.[6]
On 9 January 2015, Tata Sky became the first Indian DTH operator to offer 4K set-top-boxes to its consumers.[7][8][9]
On 20 March 2019, The Walt Disney Company completed acquisition of 21st Century Fox, making them their new 30% stakeholder, replacing 21st Century Fox.[10]
On 26 January 2022, Tata Sky was rebranded into Tata Play as the company decided to drop the 'Sky' brand name after 15 years.[11]
On 4 September 2022, Tata Sons and the Walt Disney Company India finally agreed to launch an initial public offering (IPO) for the company after multiple failed attempts in 2013, 2016 and 2019.[12] It was further reported that Disney will likely offload 10% share in the company (from the current 30%) to comply with cross-holding rules in the media which state that there is a 20% equity limit for broadcasters investing in DTH companies.[13][14] However, in December 2022, reports came of Disney completely exiting the company.[15]
Satellites
Tata Play was the second operator to launch DTH or direct-to-home services in 2006. At that time, the company decided to use an ISRO satellite. In 2005, Tata Play signed a contract with ISRO for provision of satellite space on the INSAT-4A satellite. In 2007, one year after the launch of the DTH player, Tata Play asked for more space to increase the number of channels they telecast. The extra space was promised in 2009 on the GSAT-10 satellite, a then to be launched satellite inducted into the INSAT system. The GSAT-10 was launched in September 2012, Tata Play has started utilising those transponders in March 2015. The mission of INSAT-4A was over on 21 October 2019. Tata Play is using ISRO's GSAT-30 satellite which is a replacement satellite of INSAT-4A.
In March 2009, Tata Play became the first Indian DTH service provider to be awarded the ISO 27001: 2005 accreditation, the benchmark for information security.[16] ISO 27001:2005 is an international standard that provides specifications and guidance for the establishment and proper maintenance of an Information Security Management System (ISMS).
| Year |
Award |
Category
|
| 2013 |
Yahoo Big Idea Chair Award[17] |
Best use of Mobile Advertising
|
| 2013 |
ET Brand Equity |
Product of the Year – Tata Sky + HD
|
| 2012 |
ET Brand Equity |
Best DTH brand
|
| 2009–2010 |
Superbrands Council[18] |
Superbrand
|
