View source for Company:Sun Direct

{{Short description|Indian satellite television provider}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2014}}
{{mergefrom|Sun Direct GO|discuss=Talk:Sun Direct#Merge from Sun Direct GO|date=November 2023}}

{{Infobox company
| name = SUN DIRECT
| logo = SD-HD-Logo.svg
| logo_size = 180
| type = Private
| key_people = Kalanithi Maran (Chairman)
| caption = 
| founded = {{Start date and age|2007|12|}}
| hq_location = 73, MRC Nagar Main Road, MRC Nagar, Chennai, India
| area_served = India
| industry = [[Engineering:Satellite television|Satellite television]]
| products = [[Engineering:Satellite television|Satellite television]], [[Engineering:Pay television|pay television]], [[Engineering:Pay-per-view|pay-per-view]]
| revenue = {{up}} {{INRconvert|1845|c}} (FY 2021)<ref name="fy21"/>
| operating_income = {{up}} {{INRconvert|738|c}} (FY 2021)<ref name="fy21">{{cite news |title=Kalanithi Maran's Sun Direct reports 22% growth in FY21 revenue |url=https://www.exchange4media.com/announcements-news/kalanithi-marans-sun-direct-reports-22-growth-in-fy21-revenue-113723.html |access-date=18 July 2021 |work=Exchange4media |language=en}}</ref>
| num_employees = 
| owners = {{unbulleted list|SUN Group (80%)|[[Company:Astro|Astro Group]] (20%)}}
| subsid = 
| homepage = {{url|www.sundirect.in}}
}}
'''Sun Direct''' is an Indian [[Finance:Subscription business model|subscription based]] [[Engineering:Satellite television|satellite television]] service provider, owned by Sun Group. It was launched in December 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sundirect.in/about-us|title=About Sun Direct|website=www.sundirect.in|access-date=2019-01-02}}</ref> It transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in India. Sun Direct uses [[MPEG-4]] digital compression, transmitting HD Channels on [[Engineering:GSAT-15|GSAT-15]] at 93.5°E and SD Channels on MEASAT-3 at 91.5°E.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lyngsat.com/providers/in/Sun-Direct.html|title=Sun Direct - LyngSat|website=Sun Direct |access-date=2017-09-09}}</ref>

== History ==
Sun Direct is a joint venture between the Astro Group of Malaysia and the SUN Group of India. Sun Group entered into an MoU with the Astro group on 27 January 1997, when Aircel was not in existence. But, since the government of India did not allow the use of KU band [[Engineering:Transponder landing system|transponders]] for DTH services, the project was put on hold, the firm said in a statement. After the DTH policy was announced by the government in December 2007, Astro picked up a 20% stake in Sun Direct TV. The stake was valued at approximately $115 million.<ref>[http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-02-16/news/28551941_1_astro-sun-direct-tv-dth-services Sun, Astro deny media reports of impropriety in deal]. The Economic Times. 16 February 2011</ref> Sun Direct TV was registered on 16 February 2005.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/PIL-plea-against-Sun-DTH-services/article14844366.ece PIL plea against Sun DTH services]. Hindu.com. Retrieved on 17 January 2012.</ref> However, the failed launch of Sun Direct [[Engineering:Indian National Satellite System|INSAT 4C]] resulted in Sun Direct's lack of transponders, delaying the launch.<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/feb/21cas.htm Lack of transponders hits DTH expansioN]. Rediff.com. Retrieved on 17 January 2012.</ref> The service was finally launched on 18 January 2008, after availability of transponders from [[Engineering:Indian National Satellite System|Indian National Satellite System]].<ref>[http://www.blonnet.com/2007/09/22/stories/2007092251250500.htm Sun TV group’s special offer for DTH] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021085848/http://www.blonnet.com/2007/09/22/stories/2007092251250500.htm |date=21 October 2007 }}</ref>

In December 2009, Sun Direct was launched in {{wipe|Mumbai}}, the country's financial capital, and announced its pan- India launch. By 2009 it became the leading DTH provider with 3 million subscribers.<ref name="hindu.com">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090412142819/http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/09/stories/2009040956431500.htm Business : Sun Direct launches sD services]. The Hindu (9 April 2009). Retrieved on 17 January 2012.</ref>

=== INSAT-4B glitch and satellite change ===
On 7 July 2010, a power glitch in the [[Engineering:Indian National Satellite System|Indian National Satellite System]]<ref>[http://www.isro.gov.in/update/09-jul-2010/insat-4b-spacecraft-affected-power-problem INSAT-4B Spacecraft Affected by Power Problem]. isro.org</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100816133306/http://sify.com/news/power-problem-with-insat-4b-news-national-kimvadgjeee.html Power problem with Insat-4B]. Sify.com (12 August 2010). Retrieved on 17 January 2012.</ref> satellite turned down the DTH system partly and SUN Direct announced that the service would be free till all the services were restored. Partial service was restored on [[Engineering:Indian National Satellite System|Indian National Satellite System]] Sun Direct with 193 channels. Meanwhile, SUN Direct is now transmitting 173 channels on MEASAT-3 for an uninterrupted transition of Sun Direct customers from the  [[Engineering:Indian National Satellite System|Indian National Satellite System]] at 93.5[[Astronomy:Astronomical coordinate systems|°E]].<ref name="lyngsat.com">[http://www.lyngsat.com/in4b.html Insat 4B at 93.5°E]. LyngSat. Retrieved on 17 January 2012.</ref> to MEASAT-3 at 91.5[[Astronomy:Astronomical coordinate systems|°E]].<ref name="ReferenceA">[https://www.lyngsat.com/packages/Sun-Direct-91E.html Sun Direct on Measat 3 at 91.5°E]. LyngSat. Retrieved on 10 September 2017.</ref>

As of 2017, Sun Direct uses eight transponders equally split between MEASAT-3 and GSAT-15, with three being added in that year itself. HD channels are being beamed from the four transponders on GSAT-15.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.televisionpost.com/dth/sun-direct-turns-profitable-at-net-level-for-full-fiscal-for-first-time/|title=Sun Direct turns profitable at net level for full fiscal for first time|last=TelevisionPost Team|date=18 July 2017|website=Television Post|quote=In FY17, Sun Direct added three transponders on GSAT 15. It has a total of eight transponders, equally split between Measat 3 and GSAT 15.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ultra.news/s-e/30259/sun-direct-launches-indias-cheapest-hd-pack-helped-technology|title=With New Tech, Sun Direct Launches India's Cheapest HD Packs|last=Eluvangal|first=Sreejiraj|date=4 April 2017|website=Ultra News|quote=At present, it is beaming its HD channels from four transponders located on ISRO’s newly launched GSAT-15 satellite.}}</ref>

==Sun Direct GO==
{{main|Software:Sun Direct GO}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sundirect.in Official website]

{{CATV_Africa,_Asia,_and_Oceania}} 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sun Direct}}
[[Category:High-definition television]]
[[Category:Companies (Engineering)]]
[[Category:Companies]]

{{Sourceattribution|Sun Direct}}