DTH operators are now focusing heavily on providing a proper application with OTT content and Live TV service to the customers. Tata Sky has its own mobile app which provides Live TV service and Airtel Digital TV users can stream content from OTT services and Live TV channels via Airtel Xstream app. However, India's leading DTH operator Dish TV was lacking in this sector, but that has changed ever since the company introduced Watcho app to the customers. Dish TV customers (including D2h) can enjoy services of Watcho app for free. While launching the app earlier this year, Dish TV offered six months of free Watcho app subscription free to all the users who sign up, but this offer is no longer valid. Watcho app by Dish TV offers original content, popular movies & shows and Live TV service. The app is currently providing 108 Live TV channels to the subscribers.
Watcho by Dish TV Competes With Tata Sky, JioTV and Airtel Xstream
Dish TV has registered Watcho app as 'Watcho: Original Spotlight Exclusive Shows & Films' in Google Play Store. As the name of the service itself suggests, it offers Watcho Originals, Watcho Plays, original and dubbed movies, popular web series and Live TV service is present as well. Watcho app is currently providing 108 Live TV channels to the users. The number is very small compared to the likes of JioTV and Airtel Xstream because they're offering more than 650 and 350 channels, respectively.
When we last reported about Watcho earlier this year, the app had less than 100 Live TV channels, however, the channel count has now been increased to 108 and it will grow even further in the coming months. Live TV channels of various languages like Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and so on are available on Watcho right now.
Dish TV also allows users to upload their own original content and gain popularity.
Dish TV and D2h Users Will Get Up to Six Months of Free Watch Subscription
As mentioned above, Watcho app is developed by Dish TV and the customers of Dish TV will get a free premium subscription for a limited period. Since D2h is now owned by Dish TV, even subscribers of D2h can avail free Watcho service. According to the information available, Dish TV users will get six months of free Watcho app subscription, whereas D2h customers can enjoy the service for a period of three months. That said, only first-time customers will get free service. Once the subscription ends, every user will have to pay to watch the content inside the app.
Tata Sky Also Providing Live TV Service Through its Mobile App
Although JioTV is leading the Live TV segment with over 650 channels on offer, Watcho is still in nascent stages. Tata Sky also has a mobile app with over 400 Live TV channels, but in the case of Tata Sky, customers who're subscribed to a DTH pack will be able to view the channels. For example, you're subscribed to a Zee Cinema pack on your Tata Sky Set-Top Box and if the same channels are present in the Tata Sky, then users will be able to that channel free of cost. That said, Tata Sky does not have any subscription service separately for its mobile app.
Airtel Xstream app has over 350 Live TV channels and Airtel prepaid, postpaid, DTH and broadband customers will be able to view the channels for free.
