Thread: Set-top box mandatory for all from July 1st

Cable TV users in Chennai will have to buy a set top box before July 1, when all cable operators will switch to providing signals only in digital mode. This has been directed by the Union information and broadcasting ministry.
Some 20 lakh households in the city with non-DTH connections will have to go for set-top boxes to continue watching their favorite television channels.

“All households in Chennai which are using the conditional access system (CAS) will have to buy new set-top box from the cable operators. Currently only 2.5 lakh have set-top boxes, while over 20 lakh homes have direct connec tions through cable operators, and another 2.5 lakh, Direct to Home (DTH) connections,“ say sources in the Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Limited ( ACTL).

Once the digitisation happens, it will lead to standardisation, giving viewers access to all channels. But the I & B ministry's order has bemused the ACTL as it had recently invited cable TV operators here to join it after breaking the monopoly of SCV in other parts of TN.

It is now debating whether to accept the applications from cable operators in Chennai or wait till the end of June. “We are now wondering whether to go ahead with the applications received from Chennai cable operators or not. We will decide this after discussing the issue with the government,“ says an ACTL official The ACTL is clueless about where to acquire the set top boxes that are to be used from July 1. “We have not yet received any directions from the Centre. Procuring set top boxes and distributing them is not going to come cheap,“ note the officials.

-dc chn

As of now we have 2 Options to choose in Chennai City if we want to continue with CableTV.
1.SCV
2.JAK

SCV was providing free settopbox with annual subcription but that too has been stopped now and now they are asking for 1350 only for the stb.Considering this one can buy DTH but again in DTH monthly subscription cost is more.

JAK is providing stb for 500 and all channels including paychannels are free for Rs.200 (100 for Cable operator and 100 for JAK).When comparing to DTH this is very cheap because it costs atleast 400 for these channels in DTH.

So as of now JAK is better and we are not sure about what is the stand of Arasu cable on this matter.

Any how we have to choose Digital Cable or DTH before July 1 2012.

Kindly post your reviews,suggestions and ideas.

I have both cable and Airtel DTH.

Compared to cable, Airtel DTH is good in terms of channels and quality.

Thanks for the useful information.
Govindan