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VISAKHAPATNAM: The deadline set by the government for cable TV digitization in 38 cities, including Visakhapatnam, ended on Sunday but almost all cable operators in Vizag have expressed their inability to transition to the digital TV mode as they are yet to receive the set-top boxes to distribute to their customers.
The cable operators are supposed to shift the digitized set-top boxes from April 1. Any cable TV service provider who does not switch to digital TV can be penalised and the equipment confiscated, according to the guidelines set by the Union government in its notification. Some cable operators said that the digitization would be possible by the first week of June, but officials, including the joint collector and the nodal officer of the programme for Vizag city, Pravin Kumar, said that the digitization would be complete in seven days. "Cable operators are not able to shift to a digital addressable cable TV system because of some problems, including short supply of set-top boxes. However, the digitization would hopefully be done in a week," Pravin Kumar told TOI.
"At present, only 1 lakh set-top boxes have arrived here from China and another 4 lakh boxes are required to meet the demand of the customers. It would take another two months to digitize the cable services," a proprietor of a cable service informed TOI. BJP Visakhapatnam city vice president M Ramakrishna Raju pointed out that the cable operators were collecting Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 for each device from the subscribers and said that the officials concerned should take note of the issue. The joint collector suggested that the cable operators to announce a maximum retail price of the digital boxes and instructed them not to indulge in immoral practices.
Extend deadline on set top box: CM to Centre
With just a few hours left for the deadline on set top boxes failing which cable TV signals will snap, chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy on Sunday wrote to the Centre seeking an extension of another month. In a letter to minister of information and broadcasting Manish Tewari, the CM asked him to ensure that the existing analog transmission in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, where some 50 lakh people were yet to buy set top boxes, resumes. As the Phase II of digitisation process covers Hyderabad and Vizag, cable TV transmission would cease to work from March 31 midnight. Thereafter, cable TV would be available only through the digital system. However, with the CM writing to the Centre, state government officials said that there was a hope that the deadline would be extended.
Cable TV digitization drive misses deadline - The Times of India
The cable operators are supposed to shift the digitized set-top boxes from April 1. Any cable TV service provider who does not switch to digital TV can be penalised and the equipment confiscated, according to the guidelines set by the Union government in its notification. Some cable operators said that the digitization would be possible by the first week of June, but officials, including the joint collector and the nodal officer of the programme for Vizag city, Pravin Kumar, said that the digitization would be complete in seven days. "Cable operators are not able to shift to a digital addressable cable TV system because of some problems, including short supply of set-top boxes. However, the digitization would hopefully be done in a week," Pravin Kumar told TOI.
"At present, only 1 lakh set-top boxes have arrived here from China and another 4 lakh boxes are required to meet the demand of the customers. It would take another two months to digitize the cable services," a proprietor of a cable service informed TOI. BJP Visakhapatnam city vice president M Ramakrishna Raju pointed out that the cable operators were collecting Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 for each device from the subscribers and said that the officials concerned should take note of the issue. The joint collector suggested that the cable operators to announce a maximum retail price of the digital boxes and instructed them not to indulge in immoral practices.
Extend deadline on set top box: CM to Centre
With just a few hours left for the deadline on set top boxes failing which cable TV signals will snap, chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy on Sunday wrote to the Centre seeking an extension of another month. In a letter to minister of information and broadcasting Manish Tewari, the CM asked him to ensure that the existing analog transmission in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, where some 50 lakh people were yet to buy set top boxes, resumes. As the Phase II of digitisation process covers Hyderabad and Vizag, cable TV transmission would cease to work from March 31 midnight. Thereafter, cable TV would be available only through the digital system. However, with the CM writing to the Centre, state government officials said that there was a hope that the deadline would be extended.
Cable TV digitization drive misses deadline - The Times of India
