Azerbaijan’s cable operators are to continue analogue broadcasting beyond the proposed switchover date.
The National TV & Radio Council had set December 1, 2017 as the date at which analogue transmissions would finally give way to the digital standard.
According to ANC General Ali Aliyev, secretary of the Association of Cable Operators of Azerbaijan, says analogue broadcasting will be maintained. “All the fears of cable operators, associated with the transition to digital broadcasting, have no grounds, and users of analogue broadcasting of cable operators KATV1 and Ail? TV can continue to use the services of these companies,” Aliyev said.
Aliyev explained the Council’s ruling related only to broadcast channels, allowing cable to continue in analogue.
“Given the fact that the vast majority of modern TV sets sold in Azerbaijan have built-in DVB-T receiver, there is no need to purchase any additional device. Everything will remain as before in cable TV. Cable operators will continue analogue broadcasting for its subscribers, and one should worry about it.”
At one time it was hoped the transition could be completed in 2012, a date later put back to 2015.