TRAI warns against channel disruption as new tariff regime dawns
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Rebecca Hawkes
| 27 December 2018

All broadcasters, platform operators and cable operators in India have been warned by the regulator not to discontinue subscribed-to TV channels when the new regulatory framework comes into force on 29 December.


The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said it advised against any threatened black outs of channels that existing subscribers pay for after its new tariff regime kicks in at the end of 2018.

“Hence, there will be no disruption of TV services due to the implementation of the new regulatory framework. Keeping in view the interest of the subscribers and to enable a smooth transition, the Authority is preparing a detailed migration plan for all the existing subscribers,” TRAI said in a statement.

“The migration plan will provide ample opportunity to each and every subscriber for making an informed choice. This will also enable service providers in carrying out the various activities as stipulated in the new regulatory framework in a time-bound manner.”

The new framework stipulates that subscribers will have the freedom to choose only those TV channels that they want to see and pay for on an a-la-carte basis. The cost to consumers will not increase as some leading broadcasters have recently reduced the price of their channels, TRAI said. Additionally, the prices published by broadcasters reflect the maximum retail price, not the final market-determined prices offered.

The Authority said it expects price stabilisation in the market soon, based on economic principles.

The tariff order proposes equitable revenue share between multi system operators (MSOs) and local cable operators (LCOs). However, TRAI said that the new framework will benefit LCOs or groups of LCOs who wish to upgrade to become MSOs.

TRAI stressed to any disgruntled parties that it had notified the tariff order, interconnection regulation, and quality of service (QoS) regulations in March 2017. The framework was re-notified on 3 July 2018, prescribing the implementation schedule, and specified that service providers were required to complete the preparation for migration to new framework by 28 December 2018.