Demand for set top boxes dips

The operators said that the supply of STBs is adequate but the bottlenecks are in installation.

With the government giving another 15 days for digitisation of cable television under phase two,the multi-system operators (MSOs) which extend services to local system operators (LSOs) are complaining that consumers have stopped taking interest in installation of set-top boxes.

The rush which was there till a few days ago when the signals were stopped is no more. New bookings are almost negligible, said Sanjeev Dixit,director of DEN Enjoy,the largest MSO here.

On April 1,analogue signals were stopped in Lucknow after the Centres deadline but were restored later in the evening. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had requested the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for a six-month extension on March 30. All this sent mixed signals to the public,which are again comfortable seeing the restored services, said Yogesh Sharma,director of Den Mahavir,another MSO.

The operators said that the supply of STBs is adequate but the bottlenecks are in installation. With a few hundred LSOs,operating in each of the seven target cities in UP,being responsible for installing lakhs of STBs,the process is bound to take time. We want our customers to have STBs as soon as possible as they also have an option of direct to home services, Dixit said.

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