ANALOGUE CABLE TV SERVICE CONTINUES IN SILIGURI AFTER TRAI DEADLINE

Webdesk, TNI Siliguri, 02nd January, 2016: There is a confusion among the Siliguri’s Cable TV subscribers after the deadline of 31st December 2015 passed away. For the last 3 months, all the MSO’s operating in Siliguri, as well as the Broadcasters, were informing the subscribers to convert the analog Cable TV subscription into Digital Cable TV Subscription. It was also declared through the infomercials that there would be telecast blackout for the analog cable TV subscribers. Almost 90-95% of the subscribers in Siliguri city itself have converted their subscription into DAS. However, after the passing away of the deadline i.e. 31st December 2015, the transmission continues to remain intact. According to the TRAI deadline, analog Cable TV subscribers in urban areas (in the notified areas in the IIIrd phase) under Municipalities and Municipal Corporation will not receive any transmission. However, for the past two days, there were no interruptions in the Analogue Cable TV services. Mr. Dilip Chakraborty from Hakimpara said that I had to spend around Rs. 1600/- for the STB provided by a popular Cable TV, but I see the previous transmission for some of my neighbors who didn’t spend the amount”. Similar experiences are there from various areas of Siliguri. Interestingly, not all the areas of Darjeeling district were under the purview of the deadline. According to the TRAI notification, areas like Phansidewa, Naxalbari, Panitanki, Bidhannagar, Ghoshpukur etc. don’t feature in the IIIrd Phase list. According to the TRAI notification, the deadline for Digital TV conversion is December 31st, 2016 for these areas.