The Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation has asked the cable television operators in Chennai to estimate the number of digital set-top boxes needed in their areas and inform the corporation.

According to a press release from the Cable TV Corporation, it will soon launch digital cable TV services in the city. Cable TV operators registered with it can give their feedback online ( > http://www.arasucable.com ) for their requirement of digital set top boxes before May 31. Operators yet to register with it can also put in their request online, the release said.

The State-run Cable TV Corporation's move is in line with the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2011, which makes it mandatory for digitisation of cable TV services in the four metros — Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, before June 30.

The Corporation will soon call for bids to purchase the equipment. It will offer 500 channels with 20 in HD mode. The set-top boxes will be given at fair prices.

Since the process will take time, it has sought a 6-month extension of deadline to provide digital service, the release said.

According to official statistics, the Corporation has rolled out its services across the State except in Chennai. Its subscriber base is close to 50 lakh as of April 2012 with more than 21,000 cable operators. Its services originally launched in October 2007, were rejuvenated in September 2011 to offer quality services at an affordable price. Private cable television operators charge viewers Rs 70 a month and pay Arasu Cable Rs 20 for a subscriber. Previously, viewers had to pay Rs 150 to Rs 250 a month for cable television services.

More than 30,000 operators with 1.2 crore subscribers have enrolled with Arasu Cable and the services are being expanded gradually.

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