NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: Status quo remains in Bengaluru and Mysore as the hearing on extension of government mandated Digital Addressable System (DAS) has been pushed to 8 April by the Karnataka High Court.

The HC was expected to hear petitions filed by Karnataka Cable TV Operators Association (KCTVOA) and Mysore Cable TV Operators Association (MCTVOA) seeking extension of digitisation in Bengaluru and Mysore respectively.

However, the HC could not take up the case for hearing as an election related petition came up for hearing.
 
KCTVOA counsel S Subramanya confirmed that both the cases will come up for hearing on 8 April.

Both KCTVOA and MCTVOA had filed a petition in the HC for extending digitisation due to non-availibility of set-top boxes (STBs). One newly licensed MSO had stated in the last hearing on 1 April that he did not have enough time to acquire STBs and install them in subscriber homes.

However, the MSOs who have been made party to the case are opposed to any extension of deadline. The MSOs comprising Hathway Cable & Datacom, InCable, Den Networks, Siti Cable and Atria Convergence Technologies will request the HC to dismiss the writ petition filed by KCTVOA when the case comes up for hearing.

The sunset date for phase II of digitisation covering 38 cities including Bengaluru and Mysore was 31 March however the Information & Broadcasting ministry on 2 April allowed a 15 day grace period to the industry to allow smooth transition from analogue to digital cable.