India’s state-owned telecom company BSNL, which has been in the news for its affordable recharge plans, is now all set to revolutionize mobile entertainment. BSNL has launched its direct-to-mobile BiTV service, which offers over 300 live TV channels for free. This government telecom initiative has the potential to disrupt the DTH and cable TV market as it makes live TV available on smartphones at no extra charge.
Starting from Puducherry, launching across the country soon
BiTV service has already been launched in Puducherry and will soon be launched across the country. BSNL made the announcement on its official Along with live TV channels, users can also enjoy movies and web series for free on their mobile devices, provided they use a BSNL SIM.
New services introduced at India Mobile Congress 2024
The BiTV service is part of the seven new services from BSNL that were introduced during the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024. Fiber-based Intranet TV (IFTV) services included in these services have already become quite popular. It lets BSNL broadband users watch more than 500 live TV channels for free. Now this facility has also become available to mobile users through Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) service, making it a serious challenge for the traditional DTH providers.
New initiative amid growing influence of OTT
The growing popularity of OTT platforms has already impacted DTH viewership. Now BSNL’s BiTV takes this change further. With the convenience of free Live TV, mobile users can enjoy their favorite channels anytime, anywhere, reducing the need for traditional home setup.
Special benefits for BSNL broadband users
BSNL broadband users can access IFTV service through BSNL Live TV app, available on Google Play Store for Android smart TVs. The service is connected to BSNL’s fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network and also offers video-on-demand (VoD) features along with live TV channels.
Beginning of change in TV content consumption
BSNL’s BiTV is set to bring a big change in the way Indians watch TV content. With free and accessible service, it may prove to be a big challenge for DTH and Cable TV providers, while it will emerge as a new and convenient option for mobile users.