Welcoming the government's move to reduce customs duty on set-top boxes to 5 percent, IndusInd Media & Communications Limited (INCableNet) on Thursday announced a scheme to make digital set-top boxes available to customers at a deposit of Rs 999, plus a daily rent of Re 1.
The scheme will come into effect from June 15. Pay TV services will be provided under the brand name -- INDigital -- and will be made available to cable television subscribers in Mumbai and Delhi, said Ashok Mansukhani, vice president, Hinduja TMT Ltd, said in a media release.
INCableNet has placed firm orders for the equipment needed for the implementation of the new cable TV regime under the Conditional Access System.
The firm's scheme will be valid till the third week of July (the government has said CAS will be implemented from July 14), to pass on the benefit of the duty concessions to customers.
Mansukhani also said that INCableNet has more schemes in the pipeline to provide set-top boxes on softer terms.
He said the firm will strive to ensure that the introduction of CAS is not a burden on the common man. INCableNet will soon announce a helpline number on which consumers can ask their questions regarding the schemes, box promotions, etc.
INCableNet, said Mansukhani, will -- within the free-to-air price of Rs 72 -- provide 70 FTA channels. He also said INCableNet will ensure that with the introduction of CAS, the customer will not have to pay more for cable TV services and have a reasonable choice of channels.