Months after Videocon D2h and Tata Sky launched such pilot efforts, Airtel Digital has also joined the 4K UHD bandwagon launching its first channel.
“Airtel’s 4K UHD channel provides the best of picture quality which is 4 times superior to regular HD channels and will customers to engage in a theatre like experience in the comfort of their home.”
Though DTH operators have shown willingness to launch such channels and have even brought out special DTH set top boxes for the purpose, there are currently no 4K channel broadcasting in India. These 4K channels are therefore filled with special content such as sports broadcasts and movies sourced by these operators globally.
Airtel said it will showcase the world TV premiere of Salman Khan starrer blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijan on the newly launched channel (channel number 400/158) on coming Sunday, October 11.
Airtel will also show programs like Overhalin (from Discovery) and blockbuster movies like Singh is King, Kick, Jai Ho etc. on the channel over the coming days.
“Bajrangi Bhaijan is the first movie to premiere on Airtel’s 4K UHD channel. Available exclusively to users of the Samsung Smart Direct TV, the movie from Star Gold 4K will premiere at 12:30 pm on Sunday.”
The Samsung Smart Direct TV is an integrated digital TV pioneered and launched by Airtel Digital TV in partnership with leading TV manufacturer Samsung.
It is a technology platform that has miniaturized the set-top-box into a small smart card that fits inside the television set at the back panel.
“The elegant solution offers a smart TV viewing experience with minimal signal loss and maximum audio & video clarity while also ensuring maximum power savings. An industry first, it uses minimal wiring and a single remote solution powered by an intuitive user guide enabling built-in Smart Card that allows customers to enjoy TV viewing without an external set top box.”
Samsung’s J-Series Smart Direct TV comes with additional features such as in-built Wi-Fi, Skype calling, Smart Apps etc.
It was not immediately clear whether Airtel Digital would also launch a special set-top box like its peers Videocon D2h and Tata Sky for receiving 4K content.
4K TVs currently start from a price of around Rs 40,000, while an equivalent-size full-HD TV would cost only around Rs 22,000.
Airtel’s 4K UHD channel is available completely free of cost to users of the Samsung Smart Direct TV for a limited period.