Sources inform ''Globes'' that the Ministries of Communications and Finance will subsidize half the retail cost of digital terrestrial television (DTT) set-top boxes - about NIS 200 out of NIS 400 - for 200,000 poor families in the south.
Ministry of Communications Yechiel Shavi confirmed the report, adding, "Minister of Communications Moshe Kahlon is going to add a directive, in cooperation with Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz, to award the subsidy to all eligible persons registered at the Ministry of Welfare and Social Services."
The Ministry of Finance also confirmed the report.
The press reported today that Kahlon had agreed to a request by Hot Cable Systems Media Ltd. (TASE: HOT), and that he had asked the Second Television and Radio Broadcasting Authority to suspend its publicity campaign about the switch to DTT technology. The DTT service airs Israel Broadcasting Authority channels 1 and 33, commercial channels 2 and 10, the Knesset Channel 99 at no charge.
Shavi said, "The minister has not stopped any campaign. When there is good deployment and reception nationwide, then the campaign will be aired."
The DTT service was launched in August, and HOT warns that it could affect the company.
The Second Broadcasting Authority estimates that 250,000 households will hook up for DTT service.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 8, 2009
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009