The " Idiot Box " goes DiGiTaL !!!

We have been watching Analog Television in our country since ages and had learnt to compromise for quality, be it picture or sound. No matter how much we crib to the cable operator for channel clarity issues, non availability of channels or any other related issues, the problem always remained intact. I remember one such issue when my local cable guy used to switch service providers very often which resulted in addition or subtraction of channels, and the worst thing was the change in ordering. My mom used to get completely irritated to find the channel that she always found on that specific number. Regardless of that, the "Chalta Hai " attitude still existed, no matter how much that cable guy was cursed. Then came DTH with superior quality sound, amazing picture quality and more number of channels. Of course DTH was a success but still there are a million homes where Analog cable still exists. And here enters the " DIGITISATION ACT" or "THE CABLE TELEVISION NETWORKS (REGULATION) AMENDMENT ACT".

According to TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) the watchdog for Telecom and TV had recommended the government to go complete Digital by December 2013 in a phased manner. The four metro cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai are to be initially covered under the digitisation process of Phase-1 and the rest of India under Phase-2 and 3. Initially July 31st was the deadline set by the TRAI to go complete digital. Advertisements were run all over TV, Radio and print media. But there was opposition from MSO's (Multi system operators) like Hathway and Digicable that the deadline was too early and that it would be impossible to shut Analog services by July 31st.

Also the local cable operators needed more time to deal with various problems like consultation with MSO's, Availability of Set-Top Boxes which were already running short. Cable operators across Mumbai and Delhi, reportedly had moved court seeking an extension to the deadline Hence the deadline was further pushed to November 1, 2012 after it was known that only 25% of STB's (Set-Top Boxes) were placed till date across the four metros. The process of going completely Digital is not an easy task. A lot of awareness is still needed amongst people to switch to digital. MSO's have deployed quality STB's from different manufacturers like Humax, Kaon, Indieon, Cisco etc which are Fully compliant to MPEG-2 ISO/IEC 13818 TS Specifications and DVB-C Compliant. 

" Digicable Aspire 1000 Set Top Box provided by Indieon Technologies "

 

" Hathway STB provided by Skyworth "

 

These STB's provide high quality picture along with digital stereo sound. Plus it gives viewers 7 Day EPG (Electronic programming guide) through which users can have a complete list of the programs that the channel will be broadcasting over the week. Games, Internet on demand, channel lock, program reminder are other features available via these STB's. Also most of the MSO's now provide a minimum of 250 channels at affordable rates. Digicable recently increased its channel list from 250 to a whopping 500 which include not only TV channels but Radio channels too, making it " Asia's" first and only Operator to provide 500 channels at cheap rates. The DTH biggies like Tata Sky, Dish TV, Videocon d2h and others have geared up to grab maximum opportunity of the digitisation process and are also focusing to digitize the whole building instead of single apartments which are called Multi Dwelling Units (MDU). The benefits of Videocon d2h’s MDUs are clutter free terrace, systematic wiring, no line of sight issue, one single antenna and the cost.

 

 

Starting today, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, all broadcasters will switch off transmission, at the same time at 7:58 pm, 8:58 pm and 9:58 pm to make way for an advertisement in both Hindi and English. the advertisement will end with a brief warning in English, “Go digital or go blank”, and in Hindi, “Set top box lagayein ya TV bhool jayein". As the deadline is nearing, all the Broadcasters are doing their best so that the viewers make the switch as soon as possible. The MSO's have geared up, STB's are being seeded in at cheaper rates and Tariffs are being lowered. Its high time that the transition from Analog to Digital takes place. Have you switched to DIGITAL Yet ????

-Consultation paper on DAS (Digital Addressable System)TRAI -

DAS- Digital Addressable System consultation paper- TRAI