Planning to buy a Tata Sky connection? Check out the offers
If you are planning to buy a new direct to home (DTH) connection it would be just getting a basic set-top box (STB) and watching TV, you would probably be right. An STB is very important but still the most neglected one that is placed somewhere near the TV, gathering dust and not getting much attention either. However, times have changed. However, no DTH operator is offering just basic STBs anymore-unlike cable TV operators, which still do not have many options that potential subscribers can choose from.
Tata Sky, India's leading DTH operator currently offers four STB options to choose from. One is for standard definition television, there are two options available for HD TVs including with the personal video recorder feature and a future-ready 4K box. Recently Tata Sky also reduced the prices of the HD and SD set-top boxes and expanded the availability to offline retailers as well as making a new connection easier.
Currently, a truly smart box is missing from Tata Sky's arsenal of STBs, one that can also bundle video streaming apps such as Netflix, Amazon Video, Hotstar etc.-incidentally, Airtel has one. Though there is the Tata Sky Binge accessory, also called the Fire TV Stick - Tata Sky Edition, but that is still an additional device to connect with the TV. However, here is how each of the STBs differs from each other, and that could have a huge bearing on which one you pick for your TV.
Tata Sky SD Rs 1,499 onwards
This is the STB that works for old televisions, which includes the CRT TVs from the yesteryears. This can only support standard definition (SD) channels. Tata Sky is adding multiple channel packages with this STB—such as buying this with a Hindi Basic pack for a combined price of Rs 1,834 or with the SD Family Sports pack for Rs 1,956. Basically, you can buy this box if your TV doesn't have an HDMI port, a standard the TVs have by default for quite a few years now.
Tata Sky HD Rs 1,699 onwards
If you have an LCD or LED TV purchased in the last ten years, it might have an HDMI port for sure. In this case, you can opt for the Tata Sky HD STB. This supports a maximum resolution of 1080i with the 16:9 aspect ratio for high definition channels. The Tata Sky HD box supports Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus surround sound formats—which is great if you have a home theatre setup with a nice soundbar hooked up to your TV. Tata Sky is bundling subscription packages with this STB as well, starting at Rs 2,091 for the HD Hindi Lite pack going all the way up to Rs 2,452 for the HD Premium Sports English HD option.
Tata Sky+ HD starting at Rs 9,300
When it comes to price, the Tata Sky HD+ is placed at the top of the pack. This is the personal video recorder (PVR) that enables you to rewind, pause and record Live TV. With advancements to the low-noise block downconverter (LNB) mounted on the dish antenna installed in your balcony or rooftop, this STB requires just one wire to run between the dish and your HD+ box—in the previous generation, two wires were required if you wished to record one channel and watch another simultaneously. However, the new HD+ box lets you record programs on three channels at the same time, or record programs on two channels and watch a third channel at the same time. There is a 500GB hard drive, and you can set the series recording too—here, the box when left powered on or in standby mode will automatically record a new episode of your favourite TV show.
Tata Sky 4K for Rs 6,400
Tata Sky is still selling the 4K set-top box, presently there are no 4K channels in India. It was launched a few years back for some limited time broadcasts of sports events in 4K, but broadcasters are quiet about it. However, this is the STB which has HDMI 2.0 and the True Colour feature, which no other STB has got. Other than this, there are no extra features which set this apart from the other Tata Sky STBs—perhaps video streaming apps letting you stream content in 4K could have added genuine value to the proposition—presently, it doesn't.