Jiostar TV is executing a massive technological overhaul, announcing the migration of all 130 television channels to the new satellite platforms, GSAT 17 ($93.5^\circ E$) and Intelsat 20 ($68.5^\circ E$), starting in early November 2025. This strategic shift will replace its current distribution across Asiasat 7, Asiasat 5, and GSAT 30.
This substantial migration is in full compliance with authorization from the Indian regulatory body and is primarily aimed at streamlining satellite distribution, optimizing bandwidth, and delivering superior picture quality.
A core component of this transition is the adoption of HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) technology. This advanced compression standard is crucial for enhancing transmission quality and significantly optimizing bandwidth usage. Post-migration, all Jiostar TV channels, with the exception of a few already broadcasting on IS 20, will be exclusively accessible in the HEVC format on the new satellites. This marks a major technological upgrade for the broadcaster, bringing its infrastructure in line with the latest global industry standards.
To guarantee a seamless changeover for all its distribution partners and affiliate networks, Jiostar TV will implement a dual illumination period. This crucial phase will commence in early November 2025 and will continue until December 31, 2025. During this window, signals for the 130 channels will be simultaneously available from both the old satellites (Asiasat 7, Asiasat 5, GSAT 30) and the new platforms (GSAT 17, Intelsat 20).
This extended dual access provides ample time for all broadcasters, operators, and distribution partners to complete the necessary migration and system upgrades, including mandatory re-cabling operations from the new satellites to their respective integrated receiver decoders (IRDs) or professional integrated receiver decoders (PIRDs), following the updated downlink parameters.
The completion of this migration by the end of December 2025 is expected to result in improved operational efficiency for Jiostar TV and guaranteed improved picture quality and service reliability for viewers.
Key Highlights:
- Jiostar TV is migrating all its 130 TV channels from Asiasat 7, Asiasat 5, and GSAT 30 to GSAT 17 ($93.5^\circ E$) and Intelsat 20 ($68.5^\circ E$), starting in November 2025.
- The transition adopts HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) technology to boost transmission quality and optimize bandwidth, making all channels (bar a few) exclusively available in HEVC on the new satellites.
- A dual illumination period will run from early November to December 31, 2025, allowing partners ample time for system upgrades, re-cabling, and migration to the new downlink parameters.
- This regulatory-compliant move is a significant technological upgrade aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and improving picture quality for viewers and distribution partners.