Digitization : Missing the Bus...Not to Worry

[Xen]

According to Trai, cable TV industry in India is estimated to have 94 mn customers in 2011 out of the 147 mn TV households, whereas the total base of DTH subscribers in India grew to 44.4 mn homes in 2011.

Given that the cable MSO digital penetration stands at 5 mn today, to meet the deadline of 2014, cable service providers have to deploy about 90 mn set top boxes (STBs) at their consumer premise. One would have to crystal gaze to say a yes or a no.

“We are at the cusp of a game changing transition for the cable, DTH, and broadcasting industry, with value added services, increase in bandwidth, and transparency for all parts of the value chain,” insists Sunil Lulla, MD & CEO, Times Television Network.

Local cable operators (LCOs) will be equipped to compete against DTH players. This would help them increase scalability to cross-sell other services.

http://voicendata.ciol.com/content/top_stories/112050901.asp