Digitalisation deadline: Cable TV operators face tough crackdown

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has issued new cable TV rules under which multi-system operators (MSOs) and local cable operators (LCOs) can lose licences if they fail to provide data on digitalisation, which is being sought by the government.

According to an official statement, the new rules have been intr

oduced as MSOs and LCOs were not providing consistent information about installation of set-top boxes (STBs), an aspect crucial for its drive to digitalise the cable sector.


While assessing the preparedness of digital access systems in four metros, the ministry has come across numerous inconsistencies in data provided by service providers, particularly MSOs, regarding the inventory position of STBs and their deployment, the ministry said.


The government is losing a lot of revenue because of the fudging of data and the new rules are aimed to fast-track digitalisation.

In view of this, the ministry has decided to amend the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 to make it mandatory for MSOs and LCOs to provide information as and when sought for by the Centre or state governments or authorised officer or any Union agency.

The ministry also said the new rules will empower the Central government to cancel the registration of cable operators or MSOs if the information sought by it is not provided by them. This will ensure correct and timely submission of information by cable operators and MSOs, the ministry statement said.

The ministry had set a deadline for complete digitalisation of cable services in the four metros by July 1 but had to defer it to November 1 as cable operators claimed that sufficient numbers of STBs had not been installed.

The ministry has set an ambitious task of digitalising the cable sector in the entire country by December 31, 2014.