UAE to enjoy HDTV by mid-2009

Dubai: High definition infra-structure has been set up in the Middle East market for months, and the software is finally catching up.

Deepak Babani, chief executive of Eros Group, distributor and retailer in consumer electronics, told Gulf News that by mid-2009, high definition television broadcasts should be available in the UAE.

On the delay, Babani said, "The software side says they are waiting for the hardware to set up first. In any case, it's not going to be very long before we have HD in the UAE.

He added that HDTV was scheduled to be introduced last year, but delays occurred. "One reason was that full content in HD is not available for normal 24-hour broadcasting."

Babani said HDTV will probably run for just three to four hours when it initially introduced due to lack of initiatives from content providers.

Humaid Rashid Sahoo, CEO of e-vision told Gulf News in an earlier interview that "we have been ready for HD for two and a half years now in terms of infrastructure, but there isn't enough content to broadcast to balance the costs."

Sahoo said high costs deter broadcasters from shifting to HD, but they will be prepared to take on the costs in a year or two. "Someone needs to take the first step into HD," he said.

"Though the media has tried to highlight full HD, but just because the software is not available, the interest is not there. But once the software arrives, the demand for the hardware will automatically grow," Babani said.

Currently, in the Middle East, the benefit of having a full HDTV is limited to watching blu-ray DVDs and utilising gaming consoles such as PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

"About $5 billion has been invested in HD infrastructure in the Middle East," said Sandeep Ranade, business development manager of Salam media cast.

Babani added, "Since the picture is now clear that the format is moving towards Blu-ray, software manufacturers are gearing up. There are more Blu-ray DVDs and software being launched in the market. So it's only a matter of time."

He said thought the hardware is already in the market, the demand for full HD is rather restricted.

"It is not expanding very rapidly. Since the blu-ray has been decided on, a change will now be seen in the next three to four months."

Additionally, the cost of manufacturing software is also narrowing between HD and DVD. In a year and half, two would cost almost the same, he said.

Babani said that only 30 to 40 per cent of consumers are aware that full HD hardware is not functioning at full potential at the moment.

"When people buy LCD TVs, they think long term. Even if full HD is not working at maximum capacity at the moment, they don't want their TVs to be obsolete in the coming two or three years."

He added that the price difference between HD and full HD is narrowing over time.