Set top box prices hit consumers hard

The fluctuating rupee rate, which had fallen to an all-time low in the recent past, is affecting people willing to convert to the digitised cable service made mandatory in the City.

Sounder Rajan, a resident of J P Nagar 7th Phase, said: “The prices of set top boxes as we know was Rs 1,000. But, the cable operator is asking us to pay Rs 1,500 now, which is not a small increase. This has happened to many people in my area. The MRP rates are not disclosed to us.”

He is not complaining alone. Vijayalakshmi N, a resident of Lakshmipuram in Ulsoor, says: “They charged only 1,000 till a few weeks ago. I know people who got the boxes at that rate. But today, the same thing costs us Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,500.”

However, cable operators in the area, like Venkatesh in J P Nagar 7th phase, argued that they only supply what the multi-system operators (MSOs) provide them, at whatever cost it reaches their office.

Another resident from Indiranagar, Shobha N, has a similar complaint. She says that there was no intimation that the prices would go up. But they had gone up all of a sudden when her family decided to get the digitised cable connection, replacing the DTH (direct to home) service.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, V M Srikanta Dutt, spokesperson, Karnataka State Cable TV Operators’ Association, said: “In the initial phase, the MSOs supplied the boxes at Rs 1,000 even when the importing cost was as high as Rs 3,500-Rs 3,800.” He said the importing cost had gone up further, given the depreciation of the rupee. This has increased the cost consumers have to pay.

“It might go up further if the trend continues, or it might go back to the old price. But, that is not in our hands,” another local cable operator said.