Grab that set-top box

PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY

Does your cable operator air the recently launched reality or cartoon channels? If you are sick and tired of complaining to the operator, then its time to opt for the set-top box.

Ashok Mansukhani, executive vice-president, corporate services, Hinduja TMT says, "10 years ago, consumers had around 30-50 channels which could be managed with the existing bandwidth. Today, with over 150 channels being beamed and the number only increasing, it is imperative to go digital."

In 2004, multi-system operators such as the Hinduja-owned Incablenet, the Rahejas-promoted Hathaway, the Essel group-promoted ASC Enterprises DishTV began their digital TV services. Even the state-owned Prasar Bharti has kicked off its direct-to-home (DTH) services in late 2004.

Digital TV services were conceived by the MSOs last year when the government's plan for conditional access system failed to take off.

With a set-top box, one just needs a smart card and an electronic programming guide.

Mansukhani said, "Smart cards ensure that as and when new programmes are offered by a cable operator, the programmes are loaded on automatically to one's TV."

This means, no more visits from the local cablewalla to tune channels for you! Also, the biggest advantage, as MSOs point out, is that even if the number of channels increases to 500, the set-top box will be able to accommodate them all.

In case of DTH service, customers get a set-top box, a dish antenna, a smart card and installation. Apart from television channels, DTH also offers radio channels.

A digital TV service from a MSO would entail you to all the channels, both pay and free-to-air and includes popular networks such as Star, Zee and Sony.

But Dish TV offers only the Zee bouquet of channels apart from ESPN, Star Sports, CNN, Cartoon Network. For an additional Rs 1,000, the package can be expanded to include other popular channels such as Pogo, HBO, Zee Studio, Zee Café etc.

Prasar Bharti's DTH showcases 17 DD channels on its platform and 12 private channels.

Digital TV services are currently available in metros such as Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, while DTH services are available throughout the country.

Mansukhani points out that whichever service a consumer wishes to avail, he needs to insist on a demonstration, ensure that the set-top box is authentic, and the channels that are promised are shown!