At a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here, the Union Cabinet gave nod to a proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to promulgate Digitalisation of Analog Cable Systems Ordinance.
“The Cabinet has sent the proposal to the President,” Information & Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said when asked about the proposal.
The government is aiming at complete digitisation of cable sector in the four metros by March 31, 2012. The target date for completely digitising the cable sector in cities with population of more than 10 lakh is September 2014, while countrywide digitisation is expected to be achieved by December 2014.
Through the ordinance, the ministry would insert a clause in the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act which would make a digital addressable system mandatory in the cable sector, officials said.
The measure will ensure consumers high quality viewing and also higher number of TV channels. There will be no prime band after introduction of digitisation.
Consumers will be able to access internet as well as telephone through the digital cable.
It will reduce broadcasters’ dependence on TRPs as they will be able to generate more revenue from subscribers once digitisation is in place.