Airtel digital TV is an Indian direct broadcast satellite service provider owned and operated by Bharti Airtel. Its satellite service, launched on 2008, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in India. It uses MPEG-4 digital compression with DVB-S2 technology, transmitting using INSAT 4CR 74°E and SES 7 108.2°E. Airtel Digital TV service was launched on 8 October 2008.
As of March 20, 2012, Airtel has total 318 Channels and Services including 14 HD channels
Its primary competitors are cable television and other DTH service providers—Reliance Big TV, DD Direct+, Dish TV, Tata Sky, Sun Direct, and Videocon D2H. It has a total subscriber base of 7.1 million as of 31 December 2011
Airtel Digital TV's standard definition broadcasts are in MPEG-4 with Interactive Service (ITV) and 7-day EPG (electronic programme guide). Interactive Service (ITV) of Airtel Digital TV includes an add-on service that allows a user to shop, book movie tickets etc. A universal remote is included in the package that can, over IR frequencies, control both the TV and the DTH box. Like other DTH service providers, it also provides a Pay Per View interactive service that includes a catalogue of movies in Hindi, English and Regional languages
Airtel Digital TV Recorder
A premium DVR Digital Video Recorder allows 150 hours of recording live TV on a 160 GB hard disk with MPEG 4 picture clarity. This product was discontinued after the launch of [HD] Recorder.
Airtel Digital TV [HD]
Airtel Digital TV HD provides channels in their native resolution of 1080i or 720p with 16:9 aspect ratio. The STB is compatible with 7.1 Channel Dolby Digital Plus surround sound as well and is in fact the first HD STB in India to be compliant with Dolby digital Plus.
Airtel Digital TV [HD] Recorder
On 4 May 2010, Airtel digital TV from bharti airtel announced the launch of its 3D ready High Definition Personal Video Recorder (HD Recorder). Retaining its pioneering Remote Recording feature, airtel digital TV's HD Recorder offers unique features of Automatic Favourites, Search and Genre and Category sort and is 3D ready. It is also the first STB in India to support compatibility for 1080p signals in future.
On 24 May 2011, Airtel announced that its digital TV HD and HD-DVR boxes are software-enabled to view standard definition (SD) content upscaled to 1080i HD.
