The Information and Broadcasting Ministry today said that no extension beyond January 31 will be given to switch off analog signals for Phase III of the cable TV digitisation drive.

In a statement released here, the ministry said those who have not yet taken Set Top Boxes (STBs), are advised to obtain the same from MSOs/ cable operators in their areas immediately, failing which they would not be able to watch TV services through cable TV networks after next Tuesday.

“It is brought to the notice of all concerned that the Ministry of I&B would not grant any extension beyond January 31, 2017, to switch off analog signals in Phase III urban areas,” the ministry said in a statement released here.

In this connection, Chief Secretaries of all the States/UTs were requested to ensure that the Authorised Officer was acquainted with their powers and specified rules to enforce them against defaulters if they continued to carry analog signals in Phase III urban areas after January 31, the ministry said.

The Ministry had issued instructions to all the broadcasters, multi system operators (MSOs) and local cable operators (LCOs) to ensure that no analog signals are transmitted over the cable networks in Phase III urban areas after January 31, it added.

On account of court proceedings, the I&B Ministry had earlier given time up to January 31 to switch over to the digital mode of transmission in Cable TV Networks in the Phase III urban areas.

The Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2011, has made it mandatory for switch-over of the existing analogue Cable TV networks to the Digital Addressable System (DAS) in four phases.

Digital switch-over has already taken place in Phase-I and II areas.

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