Airtel's HD set-top box

“Airtel digital TV HD will be available at Rs 2,250 for our existing customers choosing to upgrade and Rs 2,840 for all new customers,” Bharti Airtel Director and CEO (DTH) Ajai Puri said.  “As of now, subscribers will get access to ESPN’s HD feed of the FIFA World Cup for Rs 99, but we will add other HD channels over the next few months,” he added.

With rising interest in global sporting events, DTH operators are confident that viewers will switch to digital high-definition broadcasts.

For DTH firms, HD set-top boxes promise a lucrative revenue stream as they will be priced a bit higher than traditional devices and carry higher monthly charges.