Cable Box (Beijing)

Is anybody know about the foreign cable box, such as how to apply for it and how much?
I knew in Dalian that foreign can apply for set up a cable box which include 20 something foreign channels, like CNN, Fox, HBO, Starts, BBC, TV5(French), NHK(JAPANESE) etc.
Can we get a permission to have a cable box in Beijing? I heard this is illegal, is that true?

Hong