Nagpur News: More than half of the cable TV subscribers in Nagpur have adhered to the norms of compulsory set top box installation in their homes for hassle free TV viewing from March 31 onwards. However, the rush is expected to increase in the coming days as the deadline is nearing the end.
Data collected by Nagpur Today from various cable operators puts the percentage of subscribers who have taken set top box to 52%. On Monday itself the cable operators serving across the city remained busy installing set top boxes in various households. The operators believe that around 40% more subscribers are expected to get the set top boxes in the coming 3-4 days.
However going by the current pace the target appears far from over.
The cable operators who are authorized for selling set top boxes in Nagpur included UCN, BCN, InCable and GTPL.
It may be mentioned here that the Central Government’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry has ordered compulsorily digitalization of cable TV by midnight of March 31 after which the cable connection across 38 cities including Nagpur will be shut down.
UCN sources informed that their operators across the city are visiting the households in their areas to disseminate the information in this regard. However, UCN has also come up with print ads across various local newspapers.
The assistant entertainment officer at collector’s office S.N. Hardas informed that however the compulsory rule is applicable within Nagpur city only but subscribers from rural areas are also opting for set top boxes.
As per the registration received till March 15, 2013, a total of 1,61,935 set top boxes have been sold, of which 1.15 lakh belongs to UCN, 25,000 set top boxes of InCable, 16,000 of BCN and GTPL connected set top boxes to its 5000 subsribers. In rural areas a total of 6,000 set top box connections have been added.
What is Set Top Box
It’s a kind of digital equipment that refines the video quality of the reception through cables. It also provides more channels for the viewers. This would also prevent the cable agencies from separately airing CD based channels on their own.
Buy from Cable Operators only
The subscribers have been instructed to buy set top boxes from the authorized cable operators only as the instruments would not be available at private shops. The set top boxes bought from private shops would not be connected as only those set top boxes would be able to display channels which have been provided to cable agencies in the city.
Cost of Set top boxes
Operator – Cost – Extra Charge
UCN – Rs 1000 – Rs 200-300
BCN – Rs 800 – Rs 200-300
InCable – Rs 800 – Rs 200-300
GTPL – Rs 750 – Rs 200-300
