Official panel to oversee Cable TV digitization in JK

Jammu, March 24 -The Government today constituted the State Level Monitoring Committee to oversee the progress of Cable TV digitization in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to an order issued by Financial Commissioner, Information Department, Mr B B Vyas, the 5-member Committee will be headed by Director Information. The other members of the Committee include Additional Secretary Information Department, Joint Director Information (Headquarters), Joint Director Information (Jammu) and Joint Director Information (Kashmir).

Pertinently, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting launched an extended campaign in 2012 across the country for digitization of the cable TV. The state of art digital technology makes available enhanced picture and sound quality, large number of channels and value added services like movies on demand, broadband, games, pay per view, HD etc. The digital cable TV service is available through a Set Top Box.

The first three phases of digitization have already been completed covering all the metropolitan cities, cities with above 10 lakh population and towns falling under Municipal Corporations and Councils.

Under Phase-IV, for which 31st December 2016 was the deadline, the cable TV digitization is to be extended to all the rural areas of the country. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has, however, extended the deadline for Phase-IV to March 31, 2017 due to lack of progress in installation of Set Top Boxes.