HITS policy to enable digital delivery platform

The much awaited Headends in the Sky (HITS) policy cleared by the Union Cabinet today would not only enable a digital delivery platform for cable operators, but will also result in reduction in subscription rates as competition will increase in the distribution sector.

Under the HITS policy, the operator uplinks signals of TV channels of different broadcasters to their satellite, enabling cable operators to downlink these signals for further distribution to subscribers through their cable network in a digital form.

Though the policy is "not mandatory", it would enable existing cable network operators to switch to HITS technology and go digital to transmit TV signals to their subscribers, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni said here while the announcing the Cabinet's approval for the policy.

 

She said that capital investment and operational costs would come down drastically due to it.

Since the reach of HITS service operator is pan-Indian, demand for set top boxes (STBs) will increase, thus reducing their costs in the bargain.

Moreover, according to ministry officials, the HITS subscriber will not have to change the STB on shifting residential location within the country, so long as the cable operator in the new location is affiliated to the HITS operator.