Asianet Digital Network Launches 4K Hybrid Set Top Box

Asianet Smart Magic Box is a hybrid set top box (STB) based on the Google Android TV platform with a 4K Ultra HD Streaming Media Player. Google Assistant and Google cast are built-in, with Dolby and Dolby Plus audio. Conventional linear TV channels are delivered but the STB also facilitates streaming video and online games from various apps.

The Asianet Smart Magic Box will retail at INR5999, however subscribers of Asianet Digital TV who pay an annual fee can purchase the set top box at the discounted price of INR3999, plus sales tax. The LED TV sets are also being offered at a discount for those who already subscribe to the company’s cable TV service or wish to sign up.

Asianet’s digital cable TV services are available in Kerala and in select locations in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

“As a leading digital TV service provider in the country, Asianet Digital Network Pvt Ltd has been delivering linear television channels for the past 25 years and now we would like to provide online entertainment to our subscribers using Asianet Smart Box in a very affordable way rather than a need to reinvest in a new smart TV,” and G Sankaranarayana, president and COO, Asianet Digital Network.

“We are proud to have Android TV as the operating system for Asianet Smart Magic Box enabling our subscribers to access over 3000 apps including games using the Google Assistant which delivers content based on Voice Commands making the content search easier,” he added.

Google India head Android, Play Partnerships Pranab Mookken said: “Android TV is aimed at offering a great content-first experience, facilitating an engaging viewing journey with content from multiple apps right on a user’s TV home screen. We are happy to collaborate with Asianet Digital network on this journey.”

Asianet Smart Magic Box powered by Android 8.0 with Verimatrix conditional access system supports voice search and has built-in Chrome Cast, supports all Google applications such as YouTube, Google Drive, Google Photos, Google Chrome, Google Maps, and is compatible with thousands of third-party apps including premium video services such as Amazon Prime Video  and Hotstar.

The set top box provides UHD viewing with 4K HDR technology and supports dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It also allows time-shifted viewing of linear and non-linear content.―Rapid TV News