Reliance Communications Limited, the flagship company of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, rated among “Asia’s Top 5 Most Valuable Telecom Companies”, with a huge net worth of over US$ 14 billion entered Satellite TV Service with an aim to suit interests, passions of each and every family member. When such a reputed firm enters the field of Satellite TV Service, naturally expectations were more from general public and the brand name, added with best quality picture via component out port, made it acquire a million viewers within 90 days of launching.
Reliance BIG TV
Here I am sharing my Review based on use of 27 Months and I would like to thanks Samanth who also helped to write this review.
I’ll briefly try to elucidate certain positives and negatives, felt and expressed by different users, including me, about BIG TV. Let’s talk about different aspects of Reliance BIG TV.
Purchasing and Installation:
When I purchased Reliance BIG TV connection under Reliance PCO offer during pre-launch offer and it was easiest process to book my connection. Now a day you can purchase Reliance BIG TV connection from Reliance Web world and dealers.
Now on installation, Reliance BIG TV has edge over other DTH as their technician are well trained and do professional installation with fully equipment kit which provided by Reliance BIG TV and they make sure that you have maximum signal strength on your STB. Activation is very fast in most cases as they just send SMS code and your signals will start immediately. Reliance BIG TV’s Dish is slightly bigger than other DTHs.
Set Top Box (STB):
Reliance BIG TV offer three versions of Set Top Boxes are in the market among them I would advice using STB 1 as it’s most stable version and have almost no bugs since last year updates. STB 1 is robust (comparing to 2nd and 3rd versions but not with STBs of other providers) and free from picture freezing and STB hang. To have glimpse, here is STB 1.
Reliance BIG TV STB 1
The next version of STB, which is slim and have the provision to insert the smart card in one side (unlike the first version, where in we have the slot to insert smart card in front panel). The STB 2 is very sleek, compact and more sensitive receiver than STB 1. The second version has got certain advantages like better Picture quality; faster channel navigation and quick loading of inter active services. To have a glimpse, here is STB 2.
Reliance BIG TV STB 2
The next version of STB is almost similar to STB 2, but is slightly different as exhibited in the following pictures:
Reliance BIG TV STB3- Front View
Reliance BIG TV STB3- Back View
Reliance BIG TV STB3- Smart Card Slot
Remote:
Coming on to the Remote, it is absolutely user friendly, Slim and Handy and all the services (like Cinema, Select, Interactive Services and Services) can be accessed with a single press on remote. The remote is almost trouble free.
Picture Quality:
The first and foremost point, which every one would have no second opinion is the quality of the picture we receive in BIG, it is awesome via the component out port (which was not provided by any DTH operator until then) and almost equal to DVD quality without any pixilation problem. With Reliance BIG TV you can experience true DVD quality picture on your TV screen and it is strongest point of Reliance BIG TV and I think people wants quality. So if you need picture quality as your most important criteria then Reliance BIG TV is best among all Indian DTH and no other DTH operators even match with Reliance BIG TV’s picture Quality.
Sound Quality:
Reliance BIG TV’s sound quality is good and if you want to get the experience of Dolby, You should connect the left, right channels of STB to a Home theater system. Then you can get the real Dolby sound dividing Left channel and Right channel (if you connected to 2.1 home theater system), Surround sounds effect also you will get if you connected to 5.1 home theater. In BIG TV, HBO, Star Movies, ZEE Studio, Some PPV channels and some programs in Sony are Dolby. It would be Dolby sound but will give you Dolby Surround sounds effect experience. With STB2, you may use SPDIF port which will make audio quality is slightly better than stereo out.
Software:
STB’s software was one of weak points of Reliance BIG TV since it launched but recent updates in firmware corrected most of issues in STB and now we can say that latest version put Reliance BIG TV’s software in much better position. But I must say Dish TV have most user friendly Software version among all DTH Operators.
Channel Navigation:
Reliance BIG TV’s channel navigation is very user friendly and took 1-2 seconds to change a channel better then some DTH operators.
Logo:
Here comes with worst part of Reliance BIG TV is logo size which is worst in all DTH operators as it take more space on TV screen as well as it’s not transparent. BIG TV need to works on it. Although once you use Reliance BIG TV for 1 week your eye will automatically adjust with it and you may not face interrupt with it thanks to our human nature. 
Mini Guide :
Mini Guide in BIG TV has full 24 hours program schedules for 2 days only compare to 7 days which is mention on their website. You can set reminders from mini guide, change audio language, can check program details, and also navigate by genre. A visual indicator is also shown for the duration of program. You can also set favorite right from Mini Guide, so no need to go to settings to add channels in favorite list. Reliance BIG TV has the most advance favorite option where you can store more number of channels than any other Direct To Home Operators.
Performance During Rain:
Well there is issue on every DTH where they are affected during raining and Reliance BIG TV is also affected during raining and you may lose your signals for up to 5 minutes. But based on other user’s reviews, Reliance BIG TV’s performance during raining is good.
Features:
Before Moving on to the channels offered in BIG and their pricing, I’ll have a word on other important features available in BIG. We have a select option to see 12 channels at a time, mini guide wherein we can watch the upcoming programme details of other channels too, guide function to have a glimpse of programme details and set reminders for the programmes we wish to see. We also have Interactive Services pertaining to Sports & Games, Stock Details, News besides Cooking and Astrology.
One of key features which I want to mention as Reliance BIG TV offering most numbers of Pay Per View Channels and you can subscribe their monthly pack for paying Rs 55+ Tax only. You can also watch latest release with Choice Pay Channels from Rs 25 to Rs 100 depends on Movies.
Channel Offering and Packages:
Reliance BIG TV has almost 225 Channels which covering most of popular channels in India and you hardly miss any big channels with Reliance BIG TV. They have most numbers of South India channels in compare to other DTH Operators. They are also planning to launch few more channels in next few weeks. Their packages are very economical and easy to choose. Their Max pack which covers all channels available with Reliance BIG TV comes with only Rs 347 which lowest rate in DTH industry.
Key improvements since launching:
- More 50 No. of Television channels were added in less than 18 months
- The price of the highest pack (Platinum) has been decreased from Rs. 450+ to about Rs. 350 per month, in spite of additional 50+ channels.
- Base Packs were amended in such a way that even for Rs. 125 per month, which is generally lesser amount than that paid to a normal cable service, we’ll get around 100 channels including some important channels of all nature (like news, GEC, Movies & Music apart from the regional channels)
- Jumbo top ups were introduced at lower prices than their collective price individually to suit various categories of requirements like Jumbo English, Jumbo Sports, Jumbo family entertainment. These will be especially useful for those who go with lighter base packs like Value or Bronze packs.
- We are getting almost maximum number of channels than any other DTH operators in all languages of Southern States
- Advanced versions of STB s were released with more sensitive reception.
- The LOGO size has been decreased. (But it still requires to be amended as it distracts during cricket matches).
- The irritating banner “Press O.K. for i/a services” is not getting carried with the channel change. (At one time it was so irritating)
- My Account function is getting updated once in a week after update in January 2010. Earlier it was getting updated once in a month.
Negative Points noticed since launching:
- Picture freeze and STB hang are still persisting, though better than earlier days in STB2 after recent January 2010 updates.
- Interactive Services are made chargeable. IGames is being charged already and other interactive services are going to be chargeable from 1st April 2010.
- Launching of DVR hasn’t been materialized.
- The frequent changes in base packs and their pricings is making the long duration customers unhappy, as the benefits in price revisions and also the extra channels incorporated in a pack are not passed to the existing long duration subscribers.
- In Select option, we use to get all channels earlier. However, they are now limited to GEC and News.
Since inception, BIG is advertising of 7 Day EPG, even on today only 2 day EPG is available.
Popularity: 3% [?]
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{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Good and unbiased review. Reviewer has taken care that he also mentions negative points about the DTH along with the pluses.
I am BIG TV user, and i am quite happy with the service. Hope in future they will provide more channels and services.
Thanks Ashish for comments on it, Yes we have to accept negative points of DTH which we are using.
good neutral review.
Good and best review of all.But channel screen shots missing. All those who rely on pic quality will note your point. One question – is BIG tv providing component cable?
Yes I will be updating Pictures of Channels once I reach home.
I am at office now.
Good review Amit Bhai…In negative points you missed one point “Did not launch some Sun Channels. Orginal launch date 15 October 2009″.I am BIG TV user, and i am quite happy with the service. Hope in future they will provide more channels and services (they promised).
@sivkr
BIg is providing component out port, but the cable is not exactly a good quality component cable. we can get the branded cable in between Rs. 1250 to 1500
Nice reveiew, need few pics Amit bhai
Thanks to Sai for the STB 3 pictures shared by him in SOD
thank u samanth
Good Review….
Very nice review ,the smartcard slot in stb3 is in the side like in stb2 .for me this looks some uneasyness of handling,this is to be made like stb 1.i came to know in SOD in a post by Mr.M T BHAT there is another version of STB which was launched after STB2 same as STB2 but was some thing was not in that.i cant remember exactly,he told it was better than STB 2 ,was less problem of freezing.please give some details on that.
Good review.But channel screen shots missing.
Good review about the positive and negative points. But picture screen shots missing.
Yes it will be load today, I will manage to update this review with pictures.
if possible put the pics taken from component and composite inputs
@sudhakar
The point u mentioned about addition of sun channels has been discussed by both of us (me and admn.). I have similar opinion of yours and the admn feels that BIG exclusively is not responisible for that. Even network is also responsible for the delay. Both opinions were correct and hence the admin decided not to mention that point. Thats all
Dear Sir,
As you said today earlier that you would upload the review with pictures but till now I have not found any still images of channels in this review. So please update this review with channel screen shots.
Please now its 15th march stil no screen shot
How is bigtv customer service. When Bigtv was launched, I had read a lot of bad reviews about BigTV customer service on the Internet and decided to continue with cable then. Now, how is the customer service of Bigtv? It seems good that i waited, because we have more options now apart from Tatasky, disttv, Bigtv and Sun, we have Airtel and the new Videocon.
Well if you have better STB then you might not need Customer Care Service Help but honestly if you have problem with STB or have issue with package activation then it will be big problem as Reliance BIG TV Customer Care is one of worst customer care in DTH industry and personally I can say more then 50% Customer Care Representative don’t have any about DTH technical terms as well as basic things! If you want to ensure this fact then call BIG TV CC and ask Satellite name which Reliance BIG TV using, they will not give instant answer!
DEAR SIR I HAVE PROBLEM IN MY BIG TV RECEVER GIVEING ME FIST INSTATION AND I CAN NOT USE ANY OPTION SO PLZ TILL ME WHAT IS THE PRO AND HOW I CAN DOWNLOD THE SOFTWEAR AND INSTAL IN MY RECEVAR
i have a reliance big tv connection No. 200790144256. which is not working since 30/10/2010 due to breakage of antena. i have made at least 10 complaints but every time complaints were closed without attending any complaints. i think the employee of this company is totally & Now if it is not attended within three days. i will complain against him to the consumer forum.
Hello Mr. Nagesh,
We try to call them but as from that answer, engg. visited your home and found that your dish is damaged so you have to pay charges in case if you want to change it.
It all started with “Sir your request no. is ************ and will be resolved within 72 hours”. In Reality – more than 220 hours and still counting……. Surly speaking you will be training yourself for patience while tackling with these guys. If you have got a lot of useless time and you are a ocean of patience (even if you are not i am pretty sure you will be – take my words), just go for BIG TV or Reliance Digital TV.
Cons:
1. Worst Service
2. False commitments
3. Untrained technical staff (These guys even dont properly know how to properly activate)
4. Multiple request/ complaint numbers for one problem (I got almost 5 complaint numbers for a single NON TECHNICAL problem. So you can fairly guess how much time they are gonna take for TECHNICAL PROBLEMS )
5. Zero Refunds of deductions wrongly made even when there is no mistakes from customer side.
6. Poor Hardware quality
7. Paid iGames (Not a major issue)
8. Mostly Flop or old movies on imovies (even they are paid)
9. Poor Interface
Pros:
1. Perfect for unemployed people (As they have ample of time to tackle with).
2. Perfect for guys lacking patience (You will surely possess wisdom of patience).
Actually there are some pros:
1. Resonable Tariff
2. Good picture quality
3. Big Dish as compared to other DTH
4. You can manage stock portfolio on istock
But pray everyday that you get no chance to reach customer care
Enjoy Viewing
Remember There is a old india saying ” Sasta Roye baar baar, Mehnga Roye ek baar)
Your Choice…
I am a big TV user since more than a year. I have 2 connecions and I faced hang up problem very often.
.
Their post sale service is very pathetic. I shifted from one location to other and took dish and STB whith me at new house. Then I called customer care of big TV to install the dish but every time they raise the Service Request and send a SMS and after a day they closed it itself again by sending closing SMS, without installing the dish.
How come this, I still trying to figure out
Moreover since I disconnect the Dish, they are deducting my money.
ONE OF THE WORST PATHETIC UNETHICAL IRRESPONSIBLE UNCIVILIZED …….IT GOES ON IS THE DEFINATION WHICH WILL REMIND ME WHEN I THINK OF RELIENCE.I HAD GOT THIS PATHETIC NEWS WHEN I BOUGHT MY LCD FROM PAI INTERNATIONAL INDIRANAGAR THAT I WILL BE GETTING FREE RELIENCE HD CONNECTION LATER REVEALED HAVE TO PAY RS 1,200 FOR INSTALATION. TILL DATE ITS ALMOST 13TH DAY WHEREIN I WAS PROMISED BY RELIENCE IRRESPONSIBLE CUSTOMER CARE PEOPLE THAT SET UP BOX WILL BE INSTALLED WITHIN 4 WORKING DAYS. EVEN NOW WHEN I CALL THESE SHAMELESS PEOPLE FROM CALL CENTRE WILL SAY VERY SHORTLY WILL BE DELIVERED WHICH WONT HAPPEN.I SUGEST IF YOU CANT AFFORD DO NOT TRY TO OFFER UNREALISTIC THINGS WHICH YOU CANT AFFORD. THIS IS BEFORE I GOT MY CONNECTIO, YOU MIGHT THINK WHAT PATHETIC AFTER SALE POLICY THESE PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE.
“”"”DO NOT OPT RELIENCE “”"”ITS DISASTER
THIS IS ONIDA OFFER..RELIENCE ALONG WITH ITS PATHETIC SERVICE IS SPOILING BRAND IMAGE OF PAI RETAILERS AS WELL AS ONIDA…KINDLY WAKE UP!!!!
ONE OF THE WORST PATHETIC UNETHICAL IRRESPONSIBLE UNCIVILIZED …….IT GOES ON IS THE DEFINATION WHICH WILL REMIND ME WHEN I THINK OF RELIENCE.I HAD GOT THIS PATHETIC NEWS WHEN I BOUGHT MY LCD FROM PAI INTERNATIONAL INDIRANAGAR THAT I WILL BE GETTING FREE RELIENCE HD CONNECTION LATER REVEALED HAVE TO PAY RS 1,200 FOR INSTALATION. TILL DATE ITS ALMOST 13TH DAY WHEREIN I WAS PROMISED BY RELIENCE IRRESPONSIBLE CUSTOMER CARE PEOPLE THAT SET UP BOX WILL BE INSTALLED WITHIN 4 WORKING DAYS. EVEN NOW WHEN I CALL THESE SHAMELESS PEOPLE FROM CALL CENTRE WILL SAY VERY SHORTLY WILL BE DELIVERED WHICH WONT HAPPEN.I SUGEST IF YOU CANT AFFORD DO NOT TRY TO OFFER UNREALISTIC THINGS WHICH YOU CANT AFFORD. THIS IS BEFORE I GOT MY CONNECTIO, YOU MIGHT THINK WHAT PATHETIC AFTER SALE POLICY THESE PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE.
“”””DO NOT OPT RELIENCE “”””ITS DISASTER
THIS IS ONIDA OFFER..RELIENCE ALONG WITH ITS PATHETIC SERVICE IS SPOILING BRAND IMAGE OF PAI RETAILERS AS WELL AS ONIDA…KINDLY WAKE UP!!!!
TILL DATE I AM GETTING SAME COMMENT FROM CALL CENTRE PEOPLE, ATLEAST SOME ONE TEACH THEM TO GIVE DIFFERENT REASON…THESE PEOPLE ARE JUST THE FRAUD…
HI SIR ,
WE ARE USING BIG TV CONNECTION FROM PAST 7 MONTHS. WE CALLED CUSTOMER CARE TO SUBSCRIBE SPORTS CHANNELS. WHEN WE CALLED THEY TOLD THAT THE SMART CARD IS NOT IN THE NAME OF MR. N.SREENIVASAN BUT SOME OTHER PERSON NAMED MR. KASTURI SURESH. WHEN WE CALLED THAT ENGINEER AND ASKED HE TOLD HE WILL CHANGE SOON BUT IT IS NOT YET CHANGED. WE ARE FACING DIFFICULTIES BECAUSE OF THIS. KINDLY LOOK IN TO IT. PLZ ADVICE YOUR ENGINEERS GIVE PROPER SMART CARD NO: TO PROPER ADDRESS.
THANKS,
SREEDEVI
I installed Big TV for LCD last monday and quite satisfied with service… Though it is bit late in changing channels. Also they should give some facility to skip channels which is not there I guess. Customer support on phone is worst ( I tried dialing 3-4 times and all time number is engaged) so better to use mail. I mailed and within 24 hrs they called and got good service too. But they should improve Cust care call facility. Now I need to add few more packs in it. Also I have one doubt, if I have SD STB and I take HD pack, will it work. I think it should not as I need HD STB. Can anybody confirm this? Many thanks.