Dish TV launches SD-only Dish+ with USB recording

Dish TV Tuesday launched Dish+, India's first standard definition set top box with USB recording facility.

Unlike other set top boxes with recording facility, like Tata Sky's Tata Sky+ HD and Dish TV's own Dish truHD+, the Dish+ box does not offer HD support, which has allowed the company to offer to offer Dish+ offer at a price of Rs. 1,690.

Like Dish's truHD+, the Dish+ is capable of recording straight to a USB drive. This enables all benefits of a traditional DVR like recording and playing back programs, Pausing or Rewinding live TV, different play-back positions, event based recording (EBR), time based recording (TBR) and so on.

Dish+ is being launched in 42 cities of Phase I and Phase II of digitization and offers an alternative for all viewers looking to shift from analog to digital. The company is bundling a 4GB USB drive with every Dish+ box for a limited time.

Speaking on the launch, Salil Kapoor, Chief Operating Officer, Dish TV India, said "Dish+ is a comeback of recorders in the living room and is a clear differentiator vis-à-vis other alternatives including digital cable. Its highly competitive launch price will position it as a preferred option amongst all DTH buyers."

With Dish TV's truHD+ box available on their website for Rs. 2,690, the Dish+ box, at a 1000 rupees cheaper, is ideal for those looking to venture into the world of DVRs on a budget. Considering the SD plans are considerably cheaper than Dish's HD packs, we can definitely see some interest in this product amongst value conscious users.