With the digitalisation of cable television services, multi-service operators (MSO) in the Eastern region are exploring opportunities to release regional movies on cable TV to generate more revenue.

According to Suresh Sethiya, Director, SITI Cable, one of the five major MSOs in the region, SITI is in discussion with producers for premier shows of regional movies in cable channel as part of a value-added service.

“The service can be implemented once the billing process is properly executed in three to six months’ time,” Sethiya said here on Wednesday on the sidelines of Cable TV Show 2014, an exhibition of cable television industry.

Such a service will be similar to what direct-to-home players offer as “movie on demand.”

Charge for a newly released movie varies between ₹50 and ₹100 a day. According to industry experts, if an MSO charges between ₹40 and ₹50 for a movie premier and 50 per cent of its users book that show, the producer can get back a substantial amount of his investment.

For instance, SITI Cable has roughly 20 lakh users in the whole of East. So, booking for a movie release by half of these users should ensure substantial revenue for both MSO and producer. The local cable operators will also have a share.

GTPL Kolkata Cable & Broadband Pariseva Ltd, another prominent player, is also planning to tap this opportunity with its 7.5 lakh user base in the Eastern region.

“We are actively considering the service. But it may take at least three months to execute the plan,” Bijoy K Agarwal, Managing Director, said.

Arijit Dutta, Managing Director, Priya Entertainment Pvt Ltd (PEPL), however, feels that viewers who swear by the feel of a theatre screen will hardly opt for a premier show on TV.

PEPL is the owner of Priya Cinemas and a prominent film distributor.

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