Cable TV viewers in the US will now be able to play interactive games like backgammon, checkers and poker on Explorer digital interactive set-tops, thanks to Scientific Atlanta's alliance with Susquehanna Communications.

Susquehanna subscribers, who play on its Classic Games channel, will be able to compare their performance with other system subscribers on top 10 leader boards.

Scientific-Atlanta, a leading supplier of digital content distribution systems, gave the cable operator Classic Games through a simple software download to a cable headend. It is stored on an application server and delivered as per the subscriber's requirement to the Explorer digital interactive set-top.

Susquehanna is among the top 20 cable companies in America with a 2,00,000 customer base. The service is first being offered in York and Williamsport, Pennsylvania and Brunswick, Maine.

The deal comes shortly after an ITV gaming report, predicting the market for interactive television games in Europe and America to cross 8.5 million users by the end of the year. By offering enhanced facilities like interactive games, Susquehanna expects increased digital penetration and subscriber loyalty, by ensuring active participation.

Susquehanna's Digital Premium Services gives subscribers 14 showtime channels, The Movie Channel, nine HBO channels, six channels of Cinemax, as also a maximum of 45 channels airing commercial-free digital music, an interactive on-screen guide and parental controls. 38 digital pay per view channels are also on Susquehanna's offer list.