A big minus point of TataSky is that we can not get new channels with the ease with which we get them from local cable operators. For example, consider the new international movies channel "World Movies".
The channel is available from the local cable operators without any extra cost. But this channel is bundled in a package called "LifeStyle Gold" by TataSky. This package contains 8 other channels like NDTV Good
Times, News X which are not related to movies in any way (only exception is UTV Movies). The only way to get World Movies channel is to subscribe to this package at a price of Rs.45 per month. Thus you
are forced to pay for 8 channels you don’t want to get one channel you want. A general question is: why do these DTH providers use the concept of packages at all? Why can’t they offer all channels separately with individual prices so that the subscribers can choose the set of channels they want? (The providers can charge some fixed minimum amount per month like telephone service providers.)
Another small minus point (probably this is the case with every DTH provider)...
There is a 3-4 seconds delay in the reception of every channel compared to local cable transmission. i.e. if you connect both your local cable and the output of TataSky set top box and compare the reception of any channel in your TV set between the two sources by switching between them then you will notice that the local cable gives you the signals 3-4 seconds ahead of TataSky’s set top box.
This will be crucial while you are watching live programmes like your favourite cricket matches.
The neighbours who have local cable connection will get to know that Sachin is out 3-4 seconds before we do through TataSky - but we will be still hoping for a 4 or 6!
It is true that there is no real LIVE programme because there will always be a delay when an event is recorded, transmitted to the satellite, received by the dish and displayed by the TV set - irrespective of whether our source is the
local cable operator or TataSky dish/STB. But why do we have this 3-4 seconds extra delay in TataSky ? I asked the customer care and they say that it is because the signal has to be received by the dish and decoded in the set top box and then fed to the TV set. Then how is the local cable operator’s infrastructure able to give the signals without this extra delay ?