E-Vision warns pay TV hackers

E-vision yesterday launched a high definition (HD) service in the UAE – making it the first pay TV provider in the Middle East to offer such a facility commercially.

The etisalat subsidiary has a million subscribers, and e-vision CEO Humaid Rashid Sahoo told Emirates Business that 330,000 of them were expected to sign up for the new service by the end of the year. "We expect the number to increase greatly with the rise in the number of channels," he added.

The service is available through a Dh999 HD set-top box that includes personal video recorder (PVR) features. Customers will have to pay a monthly fee of Dh30 to access three HD channels, and will initially be able to choose from Abu Dhabi TV HD, Luxe HD, Fashion TV HD, Showtime HD and Al Jazeera Sports HD.

Sahoo denied that the launch was late, and said E-Vision had been ready to offer HD more than two years ago but could not do so because there were no channels available in the format.

"When the partners became available we decided to launch the service," he said. "Technology sector sources say sales of HD televisions in the UAE have exceeded 600,000 over the past few years, which means the launch of the service comes at the right time.

"Subscription revenues will be divided with the TV companies according to rates that have been agreed upon. Our service will not be for the elite but will be available to all, and the prices of subscriptions and the PVR may go down in future."

He said the launch was a significant landmark in the UAE pay TV market.

"This milestone is a clear indication of our vision to be a pioneer in offering the most innovative services to our customers. With HD sales now surpassing standard definition TV sales according to global indicators, this move is clearly in line with what our customers are asking for with their savvy outlook and sophistication in settling for nothing but the very best in TV programming.

"The commercial launch of e-vision's high definition service will create a compelling user experience for our valued customers and represents our unwavering commitment to respond to our customer's increasing need for high-quality programming with the intensity and attractiveness of high definition."

He said HD would be available in four per cent of the world's households, equal to 44 million homes, by the end of the year – an increase of 67 per cent compared to 2007.

And he said more than Dh2.5 billion had been invested in e-vision since it was established in 2000.

"E-vision is currently in a better position than some providers as it fully covers its costs," he added.

"We will be announcing new programmes soon and have acquired 60 per cent of the UAE market. Seventy per cent of the country's households are covered by e-vision services and our business has not been affected by the global financial crisis."

Sahoo said etisalat was working with anti-piracy organisations to prevent shops selling equipment that enabled viewers to access TV services without paying for subscription. "We seek to stop those illegal acts – these shops have a negative effect on the country's business environment. The penetration of satellite networks has become a worldwide phenomenon, but e-vision use advanced technology that is difficult to access illegally."

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