With the government lowering duty on set-top boxes from 50.8 per cent to 5 per cent, multi-system operators have announced attractive schemes for cable television viewers.

As per the scheme offered by Hinduja TMT, a consumer buying a set-top box needs to pay only a fully refundable security of Rs 999 and a rental of 60 paise per day.

Since fixed deposits with public sector banks offer a 6 per cent interest rate, the opportunity cost of the security works out to be Rs 59.94 per annum or Rs 4.90 per month. With a monthly rental of 60 paise a day, which works out to Rs 18 a month, the cost of ownership in this scheme works out to Rs 22.90 per month. This scheme is applicable only till the third week of July.

The Subhash Chandra-promoted Siti Cable has lowered prices to Rs 30.5 per month from around Rs 50 a month proposed earlier.

As per the new scheme of Siti Cable, if a viewer rents a set-top box, he pays a security deposit of Rs 2,500 and 60 paise per day. In case the consumer wishes to buy a set-top box, he needs to pay Rs 2,750.

Under the early bird scheme introduced by Hathway, which is partly owned by Star TV, if a consumer wants to rent a set-top box, the cost of ownership works out to Rs 34.99 per month. The scheme offers a security deposit of Rs 999 and a daily rental of 60 paise.

In the other scheme of Hathway, the monthly cost of ownership works out to Rs 31. Under this scheme, a consumer needs to pay Rs 2,600 as security deposit and a daily rental of 60 paise.

Hathway will provide set-top boxes capable of handling as many as 600 channels.