KOCHI: With digital entertainment sweeping the country, India's first DTH provider, the Essel group owned Dishtv, is aiming to double its customer base to two lakh a month this year.

Presently Dishtv is adding one lakh customers a month, V P Krishnakumar,Deputy Vice President,Dishtv,told reporters here.

About 78 million households in India are cable connected of which DTH accounted for four percent.

On All India basis, there were 40 lakh DTH customers, including 32 lakh of Dishtv, he said adding there was a huge market opportunity for DTH, which was fast catching up.

To garner more customers Dishtv today announced that its customers would be offered a set top box (STB) free by paying a year's 'maxi subscription' and installation activation charges.In addition to this to the free STB, the customer can also enjoy 67 free movies on Movie on Demand (MOD) worth rs 3990.

With these offers, the customers stands to enjoy rs 10,480 worth value on an entry price of rs 3990, he said. The offer would be valid till June 30.

Dishtv's multiple price point strategy continues where a consumer can get started at rs 2490 for three months of maxi package with 42 movies worth rs 2490 free or rs 2990 for six months of maxi package with 50 movies worth rs 2990 free.

Launching the new offers in Kerala, Krishnakumar said the new customer scheme also provides an option for the consumer to join in at freedom plus package.At freedom plus he can enjoy, six, 12 or 18 months of initial subscription for the price points of rs 2490, rs 2990 and rs 3990 respectively along with the same free movie offer.

Other major players are Tata Sky and Sundirect, with Reliance also likely to launch its DTH services.