USA’s new President Barack Obama may have stimulated the uptake of broadband services but when it comes to broadcasting the President is all set to delay the digital TV switchover by four months as it cites that many consumers are yet on the waiting list.

The new deadline in all probability is expected to be June 12 as compared to earlier announced date of February 17.

The move is expected to hit companies like Qualcomm which had bid for spectrum in the 700 MHz band to offer digital TV services. Qualcomm said that if the delay is approved by House vote, it will lose tens of millions of dollars. The Senate has already voted in favour of delay. Qualcomm has paid $ 550 million for acquiring the band and aims to offer mobile TV services. Qualcomm claims to have paid to broadcasters in the assumption that it will be able to offer its services from next month.

The government reasons that while it has made discount coupons available to subsidise the cost of new digital converter boxes, there are around 2.5 million subscribers still on the waiting list even as the government has ran out of the coupons. The government aims to clear this list in the extended time period.