The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) has welcomed the Delhi High Court’s decision to dismiss nine petitions seeking an extension for the deadline to implement mandatory cable TV digitisation.
The court dismissed the petitions from cable companies covering areas of Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and Uttar Pradesh, under Phase III of the nationwide digitisation process, the deadline for which was 31 December 2015.
The stays granted in the implementation of digital addressable systems (DAS) by various High courts in these areas will no longer apply. The Delhi High Court has instead directed the petitioners to switch over to DAS by 24 November 2016, and inform subscribers by running a scroll on their networks about the digital switchover deadline.
“The IBF has advised all its member broadcasters to apprise all its affiliate multi-system operators and local cable operators about the said switchover deadline of 24 November 2016 in these Phase III areas and make it clear that after the said date the channels can be received only through a digital set-top box. The subscribers in these areas are advised to immediately contact their respective local cable operators/multi-system operators to ensure the installation of STBs before the expiry of the deadline,” the IBF said in a statement.
Members of the non-profit association IBF provide channels and programmes that deliver about 90% of television viewership in India.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had moved the Supreme Court to get all the Phase DAS III cases transferred to the Apex Court. In response, the Supreme Court made Delhi High Court the designated court for all cases related to DAS Phase III.
The cable digitisation deadline for Phase IV remains 31 December 2016.
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