New Delhi, Dec 17 (IANS) The government Thursday approved modification of policy guidelines for downlinking of television channels to enable broadcasters to provide their content to satellite-based Headend-In-the-Sky (HITS) service providers.
The HITS, a technology that enables satellite transmission of digital broadcasting signals, will enable cable operators to digitalise their analogue system.

It can potentially eliminate carriage fees. Under HITS, the cable operator downloads the signals and distributes them in cable homes.

After approval of the government, the existing clause 5.6 of the downlinking guidelines has been amended to allow broadcasters to provide their content to an approved HITS operator, the information and broadcasting ministry said here.

The union cabinet last month approved the information and broadcasting ministry’s guidelines on HITS, a cheaper service that provides better quality picture. Unlike DTH, or direct-to-home technology, HITS requires last mile cable operators to receive signals and transmit it via cable to the consumer’s home.