The presence of a large number of free-to-air television channels may defeat the purpose of the proposed black-out of analogue signals on November 1, as part of the complete digitisation in the four metros.
Multi System Operators (MSOs) and broadcasters feel that shutting analogue signals completely is a challenge because of the presence of free-to-air channels.
While paid channels can be shut down by broadcasters, free-to-air channels can only be shut down by cable operators and MSOs.
“There are nearly 400 free-to-air channels. Paid channels’ analogue signals will be switched off, but unless all players in a city agree to switch off signals of free-to-air channels, there will not be a complete black-out, as planned,” a senior executive with a large MSO firm said. Most paid broadcasters have said that they will switch to digital signals before the deadline of the first phase of digitisation. Broadcasters are also pushing TAM, the television rating agency, to stop dissemination of analogue TRP ratings in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai by November 1.
Last week, independent cable operators met the officials of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and outlined the problems of blacking out television screens of those who do not own set-top boxes.
Roop Sharma, President, Cable Operators Federation of India, which largely represents independent cable operators and local cable operators, said, “Several consumers pay their bills in advance. In that scenario, it will be difficult to shut down the analogue television feed to these homes if they do not switch to set-top boxes by the first phase deadline.”
She said a large number of free-to-air channels were run by companies that were not part of associations such as Indian Broadcasting Foundation.
Some industry players felt that the black-out could benefit television viewers if the Government allowed cable operators to run both analogue and digital feed for a stipulated time period even after the November 1 deadline.
Packages
As of now, five key national MSOs — DEN, Hathway, Incablenet, Digicable and WWIL — are offering set-top boxes at a promotional price of Rs 799, excluding taxes. But consumers are not being told what they will need to pay as monthly subscription once digitisation kicks in.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has been pushing MSOs to launch their packages. DEN and Hathway recently said they would launch the packages shortly, which would bring in more clarity in the mind of the consumer.
According to Government estimates, nearly 68 per cent of the subscribers in the four metros have been digitised.