Close on the heels of the Union government reducing import duty on set-top boxes, multi-system operators have come out with attractive schemes to lure TV viewers.

For the smooth roll out of the conditional access system for TV viewing, Hathway and IndusInd Media and Communications (INCableNet) have launched various rental schemes for the boxes.

The government has slashed import duty on set top boxes  --  the instrument that will make the CAS operable  --  from 50.8 per cent to 5 per cent, easing consumer resistance to a switch over to the new system.

Both Hathway, the partnership between Star group and Rajan Raheja group, and Hinduja's INCableNet are offering a refundable deposit of Rs 999 and a rental of Re 1 per day.

INCableNet's pay TV services will be provided under the brand name Indigital and will be available in Mumbai and Delhi.

Under the regular scheme, Hathway is offering a refundable deposit of Rs 2,600 and a rental of 60 paise per day.

The set-top boxes offered will be fully functional smart card-based digital devices with remote control.

Hathway will procure the boxes from Humax in Korea and it can provide up to 600 channels.

The company is set to roll out CAS in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. INCableNet will provide 70 free-to-air channels at Rs 72.