KOLKATA: More than 90% of Kolkata’s 32 lakh cable homes have migrated to the a la carte system of subscription even as the deadline for the transition expired on Sunday. The number of blank screens, though, remained over 2 lakh and multi-system operators (MSO) expected the figure to slide down over the next few weeks. In the new subscription regime, the average cost of a channel package went up from Rs 275 to Rs 375 a month with fewer pay channels than before.Around 45,000 subscribers of SitiCable — Kolkata’s largest MSO with 13 lakh subscribers — are yet to migrate and have dead set-top boxes. While the majority are defaulters, the rest have so far chosen to opt out. “The latter section is trickling back into the fold. With the school exams having ended and the IPL on, many are switching back,” said SitiCable director Suresh Sethia.Each of Kolkata’s seven major MSOs has managed to get around 90% subscribers migrated, said Mrinal Chatterjee of MSO Bengal Broadband. “Till early February, a mere 25% had migrated. But in subsequent weeks, the number rose sharply. A small section remains undecided and may opt to move to the internet for TV viewing. The rest are defaulters who should rejoin soon,” said Chatterjee.Since the new regime allows subscribers to opt for just free-to-air (FTA) channels, around 4% have chosen to subscribe to the FTA package priced at Rs 157. The average Kolkata viewer has opted for a package of Rs 375 with around 25 pay channels.“Subscription will now be more event-driven. For instance, there is a demand for Star Sports channels now, because they are beaming the IPL and will telecast the ICC World Cup in June. It could change in later months. So, we have kept our subscription system flexible. Subscribers can log on to our app and subscribe to channels of their choice,” said Sethia.According to some cable trade insiders, middle and lower income-group subscribers have opted for higher-priced packages with more pay channels. “Curiously, the more affluent subscribers have opted for cheaper packages with fewer pay channels. This could be due to the reason that they wish to move to other platforms like DTH or the Internet. Many have discontinued multiple connections,” said an MSO official.Broadcasters, too, were altering strategies to ensure that high-profile events were beamed across multiple channels to ensure penetration, pointed out Chatterjee. “One of the reasons why many have opted out of Star Sports is that the IPL matches are being beamed live on some of their entertainment channels as well. This could now be the norm,” he said.

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