New Delhi, Sep 14 :  The Indian Broadcasting Foundation ( IBF) has rescheduled the first Indian TV Fest, earlier set to be held Nov 2-3 in Goa, with the new dates to be announced shortly.

The decision has been taken in view of completion of the first phase of digitisation across metros.

IBF, the apex body for Indian broadcasters, has decided to channelise its focus and all its might towards ensuring a successful roll out of digitisation of cable TV, which is the next step forward for the Indian TV industry.

"We at IBF are committed towards the successful implementation of digitisation. At this stage, our priority is to ensure that we put in all the industry might behind digitisation so that it is successfully completed by the sunset date of Nov 1, 2012," Uday Shankar, president, IBF, said in a statement.

"We understand the importance of this date for the television broadcasting industry; hence IBF has deferred the Indian TV fest to a new date," he added.

Ever since the fest was announced in August, IBF has received encouraging support from industry, sponsors, media and from delegates.

While the industry is bracing itself to usher in an all new era, many members of the broadcasting industry, its allied industry and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ( MIB) are likely to be busy with last minute execution and operational details. Therefore, it was a decision to suit all parties.

© IANS