DTH
Sharp launches new range of HDTVs
MUMBAI: Sharp India has launched its latest range of AQUOS Full-Spec High Definition Televisions (HDTV).
The firm says that the television sets employ LCD panels made from the eigth-generation mother glass substrate manufactured at Sharp’s second Kameyama Plant in Japan, which started operations in August 2006.
The features the products have Sharp says include high dynamic contrast ratio and fast response time. The dynamic contrast ratio of 10000:1 enables reproduction of images with enhanced lighting and shadowing. Dynamic contrast detects the source video characteristics and smoothly adjusts the screen brightness accordingly to achieve deeper black level. The 4ms High Speed Response Time reduces the sense of visual lag as a result of high-speed moving images, thus reproducing clean, clear and “easy-on-eyes” pictures.
Sharp notes that the reason for the excellent quality of high-definition signals is high-density information. Therefore, the AQUOS employs Full-Spec HD panel (1920 x 1080) to deliver high-resolution, high-definition picture in its entirety with same quality as the High-Definition signal format (1080i/p). This it says is in contrast to any other high-definition panel (1366 x 768) which delivers only about 50 per cent of the image information.
In addition by applying Multi-Pixel Drive on the LCD panel, each RGB sub-pixel is further divided into two cells, thus having a greater control over color gradation. Viewers get to have a wide viewing angle of 176 degrees from top to bottom and from left to right, which results in greater freedom in viewing position. MPD takes care of light reflection and colour tone changes caused by angled viewing. Reproduction of people’s natural skin color can be enjoyed without white out.
Sharp also states that its proprietary Four-Wavelength Backlight System adds crimson to the three conventional color wavelengths (blue, green and red) enabling the expression of deep red colours which were conventionally difficult to reproduce. It also enables reproduction of neutral colors such as translucent clear natural skin or healthy skin. The Four-Wavelength Backlight System reinforces overall color reproductivity.
Sharp’s TVs are also equipped with Dual High-Definition Multimedia Interface inputs which are compatible with all current and future 1080p sources, such as Blue-ray player or next generation game consoles. With the DVI-I terminal, the LCD TV can also be turned into a marvelous computer monitor.
DTH
Dish TV moves court seeking level playing field with DD Free Dish
DTH player flags unfair edge as free platform reshapes pay-TV market
MUMBAI: Dish TV has approached the Kerala High Court, seeking a level playing field with DD Free Dish, the free-to-air satellite platform run by Prasar Bharati.
At the heart of the dispute is what Dish TV calls a regulatory imbalance. The company has urged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to bring DD Free Dish under the same rules as private direct-to-home operators, including mandatory encryption and compliance with the Digital Addressable System under existing laws such as the Indian Telegraph Act and the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act.
Private DTH platforms are required to encrypt their signals, meaning viewers need authorised set-top boxes and paid subscriptions. In contrast, DD Free Dish remains unencrypted, allowing access through basic equipment without monthly fees, a difference Dish TV argues creates a structural advantage.
In its petition, Dish TV has described the current framework as arbitrary and discriminatory, alleging it undermines constitutional guarantees of equality and the right to trade. The company pointed out that while private operators shoulder the cost of encryption infrastructure, licensing fees and regulatory levies, DD Free Dish operates without similar obligations despite scaling up significantly.
Originally launched to distribute Doordarshan channels, DD Free Dish has steadily morphed into a quasi-commercial platform. It now carries around 120 private channels and generates substantial revenue through slot auctions, with earnings rising sharply over the years, according to the petition.
The case also throws a spotlight on shifting dynamics within India’s television market. Pay DTH operators have been grappling with a shrinking subscriber base, which has fallen from nearly 70 million in 2021 to about 51 million in 2025. At the same time, DD Free Dish has expanded its reach to roughly 53 million households, buoyed by viewers in price-sensitive regions opting for free access over paid subscriptions.
The migration has been further fuelled by broadcasters placing popular channels on the free platform, making it an increasingly attractive alternative for households looking to cut costs.
The Kerala High Court has admitted the petition and scheduled the next hearing for June 2, 2026. It also noted that a recent notice by Prasar Bharati inviting regional channels to uplink on DD Free Dish without carriage fees until March 31, 2026 will remain subject to the final outcome of the case.
Regulators have already acknowledged the gap. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, in its July 2024 recommendations, proposed a shift towards an addressable system for DD Free Dish, though these suggestions are not binding. The government is yet to take a final call, mindful of the platform’s reach among millions of households.
The petition follows repeated representations from private players and bodies such as the All India Digital Cable Federation, all flagging the same concern: a fast-growing free platform competing in a paid market without the same rulebook.
As the courtroom battle unfolds, the outcome could redraw the contours of India’s pay-TV ecosystem, deciding whether the free ride continues or the rules of the game finally converge.
