The switchover for cable TV digitisation in all the four metros has reached an overall 93 percent with barely a day remaining for the deadline which gets over today.
The Government, meanwhile, said exclusive teams have been set up for physical verification of the progress made in digitisation and refuted charges about inaccuracies in the switchover figures.
A release issued by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry tonight said the digitisation process in the four metros–Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai–had so far touched 89 percent.
Taking Direct to Home(DTH) connections together, it said, the digitisation goes up to 93 percent in the four cities.
In Delhi, it said, Cable TV digitisation has touched 92 percent and with DTH, the percentage of digitisation has gone up to 95 percent.
While the percentage of digitisation in Mumbai has touched over 100 percent, cable TV digitisation in Kolkata has crossed 82 percent. Taking DTH penetration, the percentage of digitisation goes up to 85 percent.
Similarly, in Chennai the cable TV digitisation has reached 62 percent and with DTH it goes up to 86 percent.
The I and B Ministry also questioned the basis of claims by some groups that only 40 percent 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 said.
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.
“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),” the officials said.
The officials 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.
Control rooms have also been set up to assist all the stakeholders.
Zee News has also launched ‘D for Digital’ campaign in association with Dish TV.
The campaign will empower citizens about key issues and help them make informed choices for a better future.
The campaign “Iss Tasveer Ko badal dalo – D for Digital” aims to create awareness and educate viewers/customers about importance of digitization and its benefits.
–PTI