Digitalisation drive: Delhi LCOs to observe 48 hrs black out

A section of cable operators today said they have decided not to provide service for 48 hours starting tonight to protest against digitalisation and government neglect.
The call was given by a number of cable operators' associations in the capital.
General Secretary of West Delhi Cable Operators' Association, Vineet Kumar said, "from 9 PM, all cable operators of Delhi will not provide feed for 48 hours."
Cable operators are protesting after the government's directive that TV cable services will be digitalised with effect from April one for which installation of set-top boxes (STBs) is necessary.
Kumar alleged that government decision of digitalisation of cable signals by the government has taken without considering the concerns of local cable operators (LCOs).

"It will put extra pressure both on the public and LCOs, as all the investment made on the instruments and wires for analog cable signals will become futile," Kumar added.
Kumar claimed that so far Rs 2,000 crore has been invested by the small and medium sized LCOs for analog signals and this efforts would turn futile due to the digitalisation move.
Alleging that digitalisation will put extra burden on public, President of Trans Yamuna Cable Operators Association, Ashok Pandit said, "earlier we were charging Rs 100 to Rs 200 from a house for a cable connection on number of TV sets, now we have been forced to charge Rs 400 to Rs 500 from a same house for a single TV set.