Viewing TV sans set-top-boxes ? Be ready for the blackout

INDORE: Those who are yet to install set-top-boxes (STBs) along with their TV sets, beware. As many as 37,000 subscribers would have to face complete blackout in Indore from June 1 onwards. However, if the non-official sources are to be believed, there are nearly 2 lakh TV sets which continue to be in analog mode and will be hit by the blackout.
As per official figures, there are 2.87 lakh TV sets in Indore while according to unofficial sources, the number has crossed 5 lakh mark.
In Jabalpur, the blackout began as early as on May 15 itself.
MP State Cable Operators' Association convener Pappu Chokse said, "There are few multi-system operators that are still running analog TV connections in rural areas in an illegal manner."
Blackout would be felt mostly in Champa Nagar, Khajrana and Bhamori areas where lower middle class people and slum dwellers live. Those staying in posh areas like Gulmohar Colony, Saket, Vijay Nagar, Anup Nagar, Khatiwala Tank, Ratlam Kothi and Dhar Kothi may not have to suffer though. People living in these areas have already either shifted to DTH or have installed STBs with their TV sets.
Indore Cable TV & MSO Association spokesman Anand Gupta said, "We had conducted a survey sometime back in this connection. We found that the people living in the posh localities of the city will not be affected at all by the forthcoming blackout."
Indore Cable TV Operators' Association secretary Arun Dube said, "We cable operators have no option left with us but to disconnect those TV connections sans STB and mostly affected will be those who are living in cluster areas."
On the part of DTH players, it's going to be a field day for them to catch hold of the new subscribers, post -blackout. Currently, there are six DTH players that are active in the state, which include Tata Sky, Dish TV, Videocon, Reliance, Sun Direct and Airtel Digital.
Regional manager, sales, Dish TV, Mohit Khanna, said, "We are expecting to see a rise by 3-4 times in demand for DTH connection from June 1 onwards and we are fully prepared to meet the demand.
Indore ADM Alok Singh said, "We have formed teams comprising officials who will start conducting raids and whenever they find any analog TV sets running from June 1 onwards, they will take action against the respective multi-system operator."