MUMBAI: West Bengal government has directed not to disconnect cable TV connections for the next one month if subscribers fail to pay monthly bill. This is in view of the fact that there are chances of households being unable to meet monthly expenses on account of the current impasse due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“In view of the lockdown, Cable TV connections should not be disconnected by the service providers for the next one month on account of non-payment of subscription fee,” the chief secretary stated in a letter dated 31 March. According to sources, other states may replicate the move.

Indians have been spending more time in front of their television, as per data released by TV viewership measurement agency BARC India and global measurement and data analytics company Nielsen, ever since the government imposed a nationwide 21-day lockdown. The total TV consumption has increased by 8 per cent across India in the week ended 20 March (Covid-19 Week 1), while the total time spent per user on smartphones went up by 6.2 per cent to 25 hours a week.