Digitisation of cable TV: Govt extends deadline

New Delhi: Union information and broadcasting ministry has extended the deadline for phase IV of cable television digitisation by three months to March 31, 2017 from the earlier timeline of December 31, 2016.

Ministry sources said that additional time will be provided to the remaining subscribers in phase III areas as well, to switch over to digital transmission of signals by January 31, due to ongoing court proceedings. It is understood that the decision was taken owing to the “unsatisfactory progress of installation of set top boxes (STBs) in phase IV areas”. Sources stated that the government is soon expected to shortly issue an official notification regarding the extended timeline.

The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2011 had mandated a switch-over of the existing analogue cable TV networks to digital addressable system (DAS) in four phases.

Digital switch-over has already taken place in phase I and II areas, while it was scheduled to be completed in phase III and phase IV areas by 31 December 2016.

However, certain multi-system operators (MSOs) and cable operators had moved various high courts and obtained either extension of the deadline or stay on the ministry orders. MSOs own and operate multiple cable TV systems.

Currently, there are 700 MSOs and 60,000 cable operators in India.

According to the statement, no further extension will be given to the operators in phase III areas.

“The ministry will be issuing instructions to all the broadcasters, multi system operators, local cable operators and the authorised officers to ensure that no analog signals would be transmitted over the cable networks in phase III areas after 31 January 2017,” the statement said.