Rumor: SARFT to Replace 1st Generation Cuncuntong STBs
Asiatvro.com, 2/01/12
An industry source has revealed that the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's (SARFT) direct broadcast satellite (DBS) center will oversee the free exchange of the first round of set-top boxes (STBs) issued in the "Cuncuntong" rural DBS connectivity program for new encryption-capable STBs. There are approximately 4 mln first-round Cuncuntong users at present. Non-encrypted satellite broadcasts for Cuncuntong will be halted at midnight on June 2, 2012.
Switching out the first batch of STBs will require an approximately RMB 600 mln investment. SARFT's DBS center will procure the 4 mln new encryption-capable STBs and distribute them to 31 provinces, regions, and municipalities around China under agreements with a total of 55 firms, including 24 STB manufacturers, that clearly delineate the tasks, responsibilities, methods of current and future participation, and expenditure expected of all participants.
Keywords: government initiative rural television SARFT Cuncuntong DBS procurement satellite dish set-top box
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