17.10.11

Analogue cable to be digitised



Ninety million homes in the country that receive television programmes via analogue cable networks will have to switch to digital set-top boxes beginning March 2012, with the government approving complete digitisation of TV transmission over a two year period. The Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act will be amended through an ordinance, said Information and Broadcasting minister Ambika Soni after a meeting of the cabinet committee on economic affairs on Thursday. Consumers in the four metros — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai — will be the first to switch to the new system. The first phase will require 12-15 million set-top boxes and cost multi-system operators (MSO) about Rs. 3,000 crore. The digital technology will offer improved quality of transmission and greater choice of content, albeit at a higher cost to consumers.

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