The Centre is mulling to complete the third phase of digitization of cable television by 2015. Addressing a press conference at Vigyan Bhavan in New Dehi, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar, said the Indian cable TV digitization is the biggest such exercise in the world. "It will change the face of Indian television," he added.
The fourth phase of digitization is expected to happen in 2016. Around 12 to 15 crore of TV sets are expected to be benefitted from this mammoth exercise.
The cable TV revolution in 1993 was succesful because there was no government in it: Prakash Javadekar >@the_hindu>pic.twitter.com/56aWG1u3T6
— Mahim Pratap Singh (@mayhempsingh) >October 8, 2014Stressing that consumers will be the top priority in cable TV digitization process, Mr. Javadekar said, "stakeholders should be sensitive to consumer interests."
On the debate on whether consumers should pay for a channel and still with advertisements, Mr. Javadekar's response was: "Why should consumers pay?... This isn't done. We'll resolve this"
Mr. Javadekar also said the free-to-air channels will not have to adhere to 12 minute advertisement cap anymore.
