Phase-wise switch off on analogue cable begins in 4 metros

Only three weeks are remaining for the complete shift to digitised delivery from November 1

The broadcasters have started since Wednesday night a switch off of the analogue channels of different genres in a gradual manner in the four metros of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai with just three weeks remaining for the complete shift to digitised delivery from November 1.

All the major multi-system-operators (MSOs) like Hathway Cable & Datacom, Den, Siticable and Digicable have agreed for a genre-wise switch off, barring a few which will still serve the channels.

As per the phased plan, the MSOs switched off all English movie channels from 11 pm on October 10. On Friday, they will be shutting analogue signals of Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) for two hours between 2-4 pm.

In a letter to the MSOs, Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) president and Multi Screen Media CEO Man Jit Singh said that analogue signals of Hindi movie channels will be switched off in the four metros from 11 pm on 15 October, followed by English, Hindi and business news channels from 11 pm on 18 October and Hindi GECs from 11 pm on 22 October.

IBF believes that this will eventually help augment the process of digitisation at a faster pace. This follows a series of discussion held under the aegis of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with the broadcasters and MSOs regarding the implementation of digital addressable systems (DAS).

In his letter to the MSOs, Singh also said that as agreed during meetings at the I&B Ministry, MSOs are requested to give separate letters to the broadcasters requesting them to switch off analogue IRDs (integrated receiver decoders).

The I&B Ministry had issued a report on the progress of digitisation in the four metros on Wednesday, saying that an average of 77 per cent of cable TV homes in these four metros have already installed set-top boxes (STBs). While Mumbai leads with 99 per cent of digitised homes, Kolkata follows with 73%, Delhi with 66% and Chennai with 59%.

Cut-off schedule

* English movie Channels w.e.f. October 10, from 11.00 pm onward

* Hindi GECs for 2 hours between 2 and 4 pm on Friday, October 12

* Hindi movie channels w.e.f. October 15, from 11.00 pm

* News (English, Hindi and Business) channels w.e.f. October 18, from 11.00 pm

* Hindi GECs with effect from October 22, from 11.00 pm