Cable TV & DTH digitization reaches 85% & 90% respectively in 4 metros, I&B Ministry

Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry informed that it had achieved 85% digitization progress of cable TV across the four Metros — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. The DTH digitization progress has reached 90%.

Mumbai has achieved over 100% digitization. Delhi has achieved 83% digitization of cable TV and with DTH digitization it is 88%. In Kolkata, cable homes have reached 80% digitization and with DTH it is 82%. In Chennai, the Cable homes and DTH are showing 61% and 85% digitization respectively.

The Set Top Boxes installation has increased, in the last few days, the average number of STBs installed has jumped to almost 50,000 boxes per day, updated I&B Ministry. As per the data provided by the DTH operators, the DTH sector has also been making a steady progress. Daily installation of DTH connections in the 4 metro cities has gone up to 8000 boxes per day from an average of about 2000 boxes a few weeks back.

The total number of DTH connections across 4 metros is 27.52 lakh — in Delhi it is 9.88 lakh. Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai it is 7.44 lakh, 3.15 lakh and 7.05 lakh respectively.

The Ministry has also given clarification on a report by MxM India which said that the percentage of Digitization in the four metros was far below the figures indicated by the Ministry from time to time. “On examination of the report in the Ministry it has been found that these organizations relied on certain industry reports only, for collation of data. Even the data source has not been quoted and elaborated upon. On perusal, it has been found that the surveys and analysis have not provided details of the sample size, sampling methodology, details of field visits and areas covered in the four metros, number of respondents, details of questionnaire, period of survey etc,” clarified I&B Ministry.