BANGALORE: Hathway unveiled its digital cable TV services in Bangalore yesterday following recent launch in Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune. Mysore is next on the roadmap.

Mysore will be connected through Bangalore as well as Hyderabad for which company has a separate arrangement, according to Hathway Cable and Datcom MD and CEO K Jayaram.

Hathway is looking at various viable options, including Railtel for an optic connection between Bangalore and Mysore.

A set top box (STB) has been priced at Rs.3,150 (exclusive of value added tax) in Bangalore and can be purchased outright by subscribers against a single-time payment or in installments. A buy-back arrangement by Hathway is also part of the offer.

While speaking to Indiantelevision.com during the Bangalore launch, Jayaram revealed that 1,000 STBs have been sold within the last three days in the city and a total of 20,000 hqave gone out all over the country.

Jayaram is confident that Bangalore's STB sales would increase. A joint venture partner of Hathway, who covers the Vijaynagar area, said that 100 subscribers had purchased the digital boxes in his area over the last three days.

"Wipro's Azim Premji (the richest Indian, probably) has purchased a box for his home. So has Infosys' Nandan Nilekani (he has purchased two boxes),", said an excited Jayaram, hinting that the infotech-savvy have realised the importance of having a digital box for enhanced TV viewing.

Multi-system operator Hathway has claimed a 30 per cent market share in Bangalore. It has services in areas like Frazer Town, Thomas Town, Cooke Town, Kammanhalli, Banaswadi, Indiranagar, Marathahalli, HSR Layout, Sarjapur Road, Ramamurthynagar, Banashankari II Stage, Koramangala and part of Vijaynagar and Rajajinagar.