JOIN US The High Court, on Friday, extended the stay on disconnection of analog signals and installation of set-top box till April 8.
Hearing a petition filed by Karnataka State Cable TV Operators’ Association and others, Justice Abdul S Nazeer adjourned the hearing to April 8.
When the petitioners pointed out that the stay ended on Friday (April 5), the court extended it till April 8.
The petitioners had contended that there wasn’t sufficient stock of set-top boxes to cater to customers, and that there was confusion regarding the rules of compulsory digitisation.
The cable operators in their petition also specifically pointed out that there were not enough set-top boxes to cater to the Bangalore population alone.
Discord over revenue
In addition to the shortage in boxes, the cable operators and multi-service providers have also locked horns over revenue-sharing ratio — ever since the compulsory digitisation rule came into existence. The existing analog television connections were to be disconnected on March 31, following the compulsory rule of digitisation of cable TV networks across the country, through the use of set-top-boxes.
However, when the operators moved the High Court, the stay was extended, leaving consumers with more time before cable digitisation takes place.