Subscription rev may rise 8-10X due to digitisation: Den

The cabinet has approved ordinance for cable network digitisation. In an interview to CNBC-TV18, MG Azar, president strategy and business development of Den Networks said, it is a game changer for the entire TV distribution market in India. "With digitisation, we expect our revenues to increase 8-10x on subscription front."

Below is the edited transcript of his interview with CNBC-TV18's Latha Venkatesh and Reema Tendulkar. Also watch the accompanying video. Q: What do you see as the immediate impact? A: It is definitely a game changer for the entire TV distribution market in India. It will create an environment and a framework that will benefit the consumer in terms of getting more channels on board, and better quality of transmission. It will also allow cable companies to offer triple play services like broadband. Q: What kind of boost in your subscription revenue could you expect on account of this? Do you still think that now that the ordinance is passed we will meet the rollout which had been earlier set out, complete rollout by December 31st of 2014 and for the first four metros by the end of this fiscal year? A: The prices of digital set-top boxes and the entire digital infrastructures have come down dramatically over the years. All thanks to standard rating involved and multiple vendors working on it. So, the prices are cheap. Primarily the investment is going to be in the form of set top boxes. The set top box costs in the region of Rs 1,000-1,200. So, I don