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The case for the extension of the digitisation deadline is still pending with the Chennai High Court and the next hearing is set for November 9.
While Delhi and Mumbai have gone digital as per the plan on October 31, the other two metros are still facing problems in digitisation.
Justice Paul N Vasanthakumar heard the petition from the Chennai Metro Cable TV Operators Association (MCOA). MCOA is seeking an extension of the deadline on the basis of lack of sufficient number of set top boxes.
The association mentioned the shortage of the set-top-boxes (STBs) as the major problem for the delay. It is known that the HC has asked the two parties to mention the exact number of STBs required.
As per the government's figures based on the 2011 census, the city has 11 lakh subscribers, of which seven lakh are being covered by the DTH players. However, the cable operators state that the figure is far above four million in the city, of which merely 15-20 per cent is digitised.
The cable operators and MSOs in the city are very positive about the extension of the deadline.