Cable TV operators in Chennai are a confused lot. With the Trai-set July deadline for providing set top boxes to cable TV users nearing, it is unlikely the state-run Arasu Cable TV Corporation (ACTL) will step into Chennai soon, as it is yet to take a firm decision on procuring set top boxes (STB).
On the other hand, private players have already approached operators in the city asking them to buy their STBs.
As per the new directive, starting July 1, operators across four major cities in the country should switch over to digital mode under which subscribers would be able to receive signals only if they own a set top box.
Once the cable connections are digitised, it would lead to standardisation of all channels where viewers can access all channels with same picture and sound quality.
“Though ACTL officials have been maintaining that they would launch operations in the city, which has around 30 lakh connections, there seems to be an uncertainty in the wake of Trai’s recent mandate and they have also not come out with a firm announcement,” says an operator in North Chennai requesting anonymity.
“With no clear indications from ACTL, we are confused whether to wait till it enters Chennai, or join hands with the private firm that has already written to us,” opines another operator.
A few operators have started distributing pamphlets advertising about STBs. “They have marked `1, 300 as the price for an STB and fixed Rs 5 per pay channel, which would force users to spend more than Rs 130 a month. It is against the basic idea of providing connection at a nominal cost,” laments A.Kumar of Tambaram.
Meanwhile, ACTL officials are not able to say anything concrete, as they will have to invest an enormous amount towards procuring set top boxes, besides setting up infrastructure facilities, if they want to launch operations here.