The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has extended the 30th June 2012 deadline for digitization of cable TV in the four metros- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, by four months. The switchover date from analog to digital cable tv systems is now 31st October 2012. This means that cable tv subscribers, MSOs and operators in the 4 cities get more time to switch to digital and install set top boxes. The Ministry mentioned that the pace of installation of set top boxes, which are needed for receiving digital broadcasts had not picked up pace since the TRAI's orders on Tariff & Interconnection, and quality of service & consumer complaints redressal were issued late, owing to which their implementation is yet to take place. After consultations with all stake holders and in public interest the Ministry said that it had to extend the deadline. According to the Ministry, regulations on Tariff & Interconnection were issued by TRAI only on 30th April 2012 instead of being issued in January, 2012. The Quality of Service Regulations and the Consumer Complaint Redressal Regulations were issued on 14th May, 2012 by TRAI, according to which, every Broadcaster and MSO was required to publish its Reference Interconnect Offers (RIOs) within 30 days of issue of the Regulation, and another 30 days were required for negotiations between Broadcasters and MSOs. As per the Ministry, it's only then that the MSOs and LCOs arrive at agreements which enable consumers to have a clear indication of the terms and conditions for installing Set Top Boxes and the…
