Joining the trend among most channels to switch from an analog feed, music channel MTV is preparing to go digital by end-July. 

Sanjeev Hiremath, vice-president, network development, South Asia, licensing and merchandising, said till the full transition to digital was carried through, the channel would be operating a dual illumination feed, continuing the analog feed on the PAS 10 satellite. 

Hiremath said that just over 1,500 Philips Cryptowork boxes had been seeded so far and that he expected to seed a total of 4,000 set tops by the time the channel switched to a completely digital feed by the end of July. Set tops were being supplied to cable operators at a subsidised rate of Rs 12,000 per box, Hiremath said.

Aside from improved transmission quality, a digital feed occupies less transponder space, which makes it far easier to introduce new channels when required, Hiremath said. Will India finally get to see Viacom channels VH1 and the like in the not too distant future? With the introduction of conditional access systems (CAS) around the corner, the possibilities can only increase.

Current Technical Specifications
Analog feed: 
Satellite: Panamsat PAS-10 
Transponder: 7C 
Downlink Polarisation: Horizontal 
Downlink Frequency: 4034 MHz 

Digital feed: 
Satellite: Panamsat PAS-10 
Transponder: 11C 
Downlink Polarisation: Horizontal 
Downlink Frequency: 5154 MHz 

Technical Specifications Post Digitalisation 
Satellite: Panamsat PAS-10 
Transponder: 7C 
Downlink Polarisation: Horizontal 
Downlink Frequency: 4034 MHz