The intended digitalisation of cable TV services in four Indian ‘metros’ will now be extended four months beyond the scheduled July 1 introduction, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has confirmed.

The decision to defer the plan for switchover from analogue to digitalised signals follows the realisation that the metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata were not ready for the move.

“The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has decided to modify the 30th June deadline for a complete switch over to 31st October 2012,” said a statement issued by the Ministry. “All the TRAI regulations for Digital Addressable System will come into effect from 1st November, 2012,” the statement added.

The Ministry said that it was imperative that the modified target deadline was set with strict benchmarks to ensure that no complacency sets in in the system and that the new target date would be achieved collectively by all the stakeholders.

The state governments involved had sought an extension of six months until December 31, but was rejected by the Ministry, which set the revised timescale. The Ministry confirmed it would closely monitor the process of digitalisation over the next four months.

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