Cable operators want extension of digitisation deadline

New Delhi: A group of local cable operators (LCOs) from the Capital Friday asked the government to extend the June 30 deadline of cable TV digitisation in the four metro cities, saying there were not enough set top boxes (STBs) available.

The group under the aegis of Cable Operators Welfare Association (COWA) also demanded a higher share from digitised cable system.

A memorandum has been submitted to Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni, with a list of demands, including "extension of deadlines for switching off analog as there are no adequate STBs to seed in subscriber homes", COWA said in a statement.

Asking for a higher revenue share, COWA further said: "LCOs were getting at least Rs 82 per customer in Conditional Access System (CAS) areas, which has been reduced to just Rs 45 or less in Digital Addressability System (DAS) areas."

PTI