The Subhash Chandra-promoted ASC Enterprises, India's first direct-to-home television broadcaster, is targeting 1.5 million subscribers for its DTH service by December 2004.

"We have about 60,000 customers now and is adding about 1,500 every day. We will be offering our services in non-cable areas," said Jawahar Goel, additional vice-chairman, Essel Group, ASC's parent.

Dish TV, the DTH service of ASC Enterprises, was launched on 2 October and had logged about 15,000 subscribers within the first two weeks of its launch.

He also said that the company is in talks with other broadcasters to get their channels on its DTH platform.

"We want to add additional content to our platform. We are adding new channels on our own as well as in negotiations with other broadcasters to bring them with us," Goel said. Value-added services such as video games, personal video recorder, pay-per-view, near video-on-demand, are also being offered by Dish TV.

The company is also launching five international channels exclusively for its DTH platform. It is also in the process of appointing distributor across the country.

"We will be using out cable network to distribute the DTH platform also," Goel said.

Pointing out that the DTH service of the company has massive potential in the country, Goel said, "A large percentage of house holds are not serviced by cable operators because of economical non-viability. Substantial number of house holds in such areas have the paying capacity but do not have access and hence are high potential for Dish TV services being an untapped market."

The DTH service offers old Hindi movie channel, Golden Cinema, comedy channel, Smile TV, action movie channel, Action Cinema and English action films channel FX channel.

These channels will be available over an above the basic bouquet that is presently being offered for Rs 100 plus tax as an introductory offer.