KOLKATA: SitiCable Network is all set to welcome the New Year on a positive note and how? The national multi-system operator (MSO) is hosting its yearly get-together with around 14,000 last mile operators (LMOs) along with their families and the broadcasters attending it. The get-together which is scheduled for 4 January 2014 is a platform for the MSO to discuss its ambitious expansion plans in the eastern region as well as share their achievements.

“This get-together is very important for us. It is here that we will talk about the cable TV industry and also announce our achievements, particularly, in the eastern region,” informed SitiCable Kolkata director Suresh Sethia.

The MSO claims to have seeded around 1.7 million set top boxes (STBs) in the eastern region. “With the cable TV digitisation being in full swing, across the eastern region, we plan to install another 1.5 million STBs by December 2014,” added Sethia.

This is not all. The MSO is also focusing on creating and acquiring content for approximately eight server based television channels. “We are looking at acquiring content in the eastern region. This meeting will help us talk to both the broadcasters and the LMOs directly,” he said.

The MSO, who is currently planning at acquiring content for server based channels in Kolkata, will also look at tapping into the market in Patna and Guwahati.

A cable TV analyst said, “The MSO has number of plans already under consideration and before complete digitisation, it is the best opportunity for it to address all the opportunities and the issues so that it can achieve its target.”

The eastern region accounts for around 40 per cent of the revenue to SitiCable. “It is one of the most important markets for the company,” added the cable TV analyst.