[Review] Comparison of Tata Play and Airtel Digital TV (ADTV) DTH Services in India

Here is another exclusive article for AskVG readers. It might become very useful if you live in India and planning to switch to or purchase a new DTH (Direct-To-Home) television service provider.

Today in this article we are going to write an exclusive review of Airtel Digital TV (ADTV) which is one of the most popular DTH service providers in India. We are also going to compare ADTV with Tata Play (formerly known as Tata Sky) which is another popular DTH service in India.

Recently we compared Dish TV DTH with Tata Sky. If you didn’t read the article, you can read it at following link:

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[Review] Comparison Between Tata Sky and Dish TV DTH Services in India

In the above article we concluded that Dish TV is better than Tata Sky in number of channels, picture quality, etc but Tata Sky is better than Dish TV in recording feature.

Now lets see if Airtel Digital TV can beat Tata Sky or not and which is the best DTH service in India?

Airtel_Digital_TV_Tata_Sky_DTH.png

We have divided the review and comparison in following parts:

  • Compare DTH Set Top Box (STB) and Software UI
  • Channel Recording Feature
  • Compare DTH Set Top Box Remote
  • Compare DTH HD Channels Count, Packs and Plans
  • Some Other Comparison Points

Let’s start the review and comparison between Tata Sky and Airtel Digital TV DTH services:

Compare Both DTH Set Top Box and Software UI (User Interface)

Tata Sky and Airtel Digital TV are very similar in hardware as well as software. Both DTH services are using quite similar hardware and both provide good picture quality. Both DTH services provide built-in hard disks to record channel programs.

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UPDATE: Airtel has discontinued the Set Top Box with built-in hard disk.

If we talk about the set top box software, its almost same in both DTH services. Actually both companies are using same software which has been developed by Cisco company in India, that’s why you’ll find quite similar user interface in both services.

If a person switches from Airtel DTH to Tata Sky or vice versa, he’ll not face any problem as the user interface and features are almost same in both DTH services.

In fact all menu options are same and present in same locations in both DTH services such as recorder settings, user or system settings, etc.

NOTE: Tata Sky comes with a very useful option called “Master Lock” to block / restrict all TV channels and services. It might become handy if you want to prevent others from watching TV in some situations:

[Tip] How to Block / Restrict All TV Channels and Services in Tata Sky Set Top Box

UPDATE: The new Tata Sky HD+ Transfer box (PVR) now comes with brand new EVO12 EPG and UI which looks extremely premium and stylish.

The hidden secret trick to reinstall or update set top box firmware works fine in both DTH services as both are using same software.

So in hardware, software and user interface areas, both Airtel and Tata Sky earn equal points.

[Tata Sky Bug] Favorite Audio/Language Resets to English on HD Channels

Channel Recording Feature

There is no doubt that Tata Sky’s recording feature is excellent but Airtel also provides similar feature and functionality. Since both DTH services are using same software, recording functionality is also almost same in them. Airtel allows users to watch one and record one TV channel program or record two channel programs simultaneously. But Tata Sky allows users to watch one and record two other TV channels programs or record three channels programs simultaneously.

Both DTH services allow users to set series recordings in which you can set the set top box to automatically record all new episodes of your desired TV program.

UPDATE: Some Airtel users have reported that sometimes a few series recordings are automatically deleted from Airtel Digital TV set top box. It might be a bug in Airtel set top box firmware.

Compare Both DTH STB Remote

Here Airtel DTH is a clear winner. Airtel DTH remote is actually a universal remote and you can on/off your TV using Airtel remote. You can also increase/decrease volume of your TV set, Mute TV sound and use TV/AV options with the help of Airtel remote.

Airtel DTH remote can work for almost all brand televisions but first you’ll need to program the remote and pair your TV remote buttons with Airtel remote buttons. To pair your TV set with Airtel DTH remote, you just need to follow some simple steps given at following link:

How to Program and Use Airtel Digital TV (ADTV) and Tata Sky DTH Universal Remotes?

Its a quite handy feature as you don’t need to carry 2 remotes with you whenever you are watching TV. A single Airtel remote can operate both set top box as well as your TV set.

Unfortunately this thing is not present in Tata Sky remote. Tata Sky remote is not universal but you can purchase a universal remote from Tata Sky but again you’ll need to spend extra money for it.

UPDATE: Now Tata Sky new set top boxes also come with universal remote.

Also Airtel remote is light-weight and looks better than Tata Sky remote.

Compare Both DTH Channels Count, Packs and Plans

If we talk about HD channels count, Tata Sky beats Airtel. Tata Sky provides maximum 106 HD channels, on the other hand Airtel provides 92 HD channels.

NOTE: Since all DTH companies regularly add new HD channels, it would be better to visit following exclusive comparison topic to know the current status of HD channels availability on all DTH services in India:

[Review] Which DTH Service Provides Maximum HD Channels in India?

Picture quality in Tata Sky is slightly better than Airtel DTH.

UPDATE: After new TRAI tariff order, now all DTH companies provide almost same prices, packs and plans.

[FAQ] How to Choose TV Channels Pack / Plan After New TRAI Tariff Order in India

Some Other Comparison Points Which are Worth to Mention

When you switch on Airtel DTH set top box, it starts with the same TV channel which you were watching last time. On the other hand, Tata Sky set top box always starts with channel 100 which is actually an advertisement channel of Tata Sky which becomes quite annoying sometimes.

UPDATE: Now Airtel Set Top Box also starts with their service channel instead of last watched channel.

Airtel DTH allows you to create 4 different profiles to store your favorite TV channels. On the other hand Tata Sky provides only one default profile.

We can see that Airtel Digital TV is better than Tata Sky in almost each area. Hardware and software is same in both DTH services. User interface is also same but Airtel Digital TV has some plus points such as universal remote, more TV channels, etc which make Airtel DTH better than Tata Sky.

Which DTH service are you using? Feel free to share your comment with us…

Published in: Mobiles and Internet

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. I’m using airtel HD Recorder and its awesome. I agree its interface is exact same as of tata sky.

  2. Dear Vishalji , the comparison really was done after deep study. I appreciate efforts taken.
    Different dish provider give channel package,also individual channel selection optn started now.
    hope we shall get a beautiful comparison study on it

  3. ^^ A la carte channel is a facility for customers to separately subscribe to their desired channels. If a channel is not available in your subscription pack and if its available as an a la carte channel, you can subscribe to it.

  4. Hi,

    Very nice and resourceful article! I wanted to know which of these services is least disrupted during rains?

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