Keeping in view the cutoff date of 31st Dec 2015 for Phase III of cable TV Digitisation, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had a meeting of the Task Force on 30th Dec 2015 to take stock of the situation of cable TV digitisation in urban areas falling in Phase III. The meeting was chaired by Secretary, Information & Broadcasting.

The Task Force assessed the progress of digitisation as being very positive. It was noted that seeding has taken place in most of the notified urban areas with STBs, while the seeding-dark area were only around 400 out of more than 6000 urban areas, many of which had population below 1000 while the rest were in areas having population of less than 5000.

Further, the seeding figures as shared in the meeting indicated a high level of seeding in the country, to the extent of more than 75%, excluding Tamil Nadu where certain legal matters have restricted the process of digitisation. This figure was expected to be higher when all the registered MSOs provide their final figures.

Broadcasters were advised to ensure that no analogue signals are transmitted in Phase III areas after 31st Dec 2015 but without affecting analogue signals in phase IV areas.

It was unanimously decided that looking to the positive outcome of the Digitisation Phase III exercise and the fact that the notification for the cut-off date for phase III was issued more than a year ago, there was absolutely no requirement for extension of the cut-off date.

Task Force noted that various awareness campaigns, Task Force and MSO sub-group meetings and orientation workshops for the state and district Nodal officers have been held during this period. A multilingual toll free helpline (1800 180 4343) has also been made operational.