Exclusive teams to verify switchover progress as cable TV digitisation deadline ends tomorrow

NEW DELHI: With the deadline for switching over to digitisation in four metros ending tomorrow, Government today said exclusive teams have been set up for physical verification of the progress made, even as it refuted charges about inaccuracies in the transition figures.

It questioned the basis of claims by some groups that only 40 per cent of cable TV homes have opted for digitisation.

"Our data is purely based on the Census figures and the Government is transparent on the issue because digitisation process is a win-win situation for everyone," officials in the I&B Ministry underlined.

Multi-system operators (MSOs) too would not provide inaccurate data as they are registered ones and face the possibility of losing their license for doing so, they said, adding only 12 per cent of cable TV homes are left for digitisation.

"We are very confident the data provided by them is correct data. This is a digital data. If you have installed a set top box (under the digitisation process), then it will also be reflected in the subscriber management system (SMS)," they said.

It said teams comprising technical professionals from Prasar Bharati and Broadcast Engineering Consultants of India have been constituted to visit the MSOs in the four metros.

"They are exclusive teams comprising technical experts to visit headends of MSOs in the four metros to cross check and see their preparedness for switchover and also to see the data provided by them is accurate and credible," said officials.

Headend is a master facility for receiving television signals for processing and distribution over a cable television system.