Despite the threats and bluster from India’s government and industry regulator to switch off analogue TV signals in the nation’s four largest cities, many people can still view analogue cable TV.

India’s Information & Broadcasting Ministry had ruled that all analogue transmissions cease at midnight on October 31st in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai.

Chennai’s signals are still active pending a Madras High Court case hearing a petition that their dates be extended for two months. Some 600,000 homes are still viewing analogue TV in the city pending a decision by the court.

Kolkata homes can also still see analogue TV helped by a West Bengal chief minister’s instructions to local MSOs to keep the signals flowing. The thought is that switching off analogue TV would create civil unrest. It is a situation where the regional ruling has taken precedence over national rules.

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