NEW DELHI :
In what could also be deemed some reduction to broadcasters, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has prolonged the deadline for implementation of the brand new tariff order (NTO 2.0) to 1 April, 2022 from 1 December this 12 months.
In a letter dated 10 November, which was despatched to broadcasters and DPOs (distribution platform house owners) similar to direct-to-home gamers and cable providers, by Arvind Kumar, advisor (broadcasting and cable providers), Trai, the regulatory authority stated that each one broadcasters should report any change in identify, language, MRPs monthly of channels or bouquets or composition of the latter as per the brand new framework by 31 December, 2021. All broadcasters who’ve already filed RIOs (Reference Interconnect Supply), which incorporates the MRP of their channels and bouquets, together with different phrases and situations of interconnect agreements, may additionally revise the identical by the thirty first. Data on distribution retail costs of channels, composition of bouquets of pay and free-to-air channels should be despatched to Trai by DPOs by 31 January, 2022.
Mint has seen a replica of the letter.
“All distributors of tv channels shall supply and procure the choice for subscription of latest bouquets or channels from the subscribers in compliance with the provisions from 1 February, 2022 to 31 March, 2022 and shall make sure that with impact from 1 April, 2022, providers to the subscribers are offered as per the bouquets or channels opted by the subscribers,” the letter stated. It added that the authority has thought of the issues of varied stakeholders with respect to the time frame required for customers emigrate to the brand new tariff scheme and make their decisions.
“In view of the complexities and magnitude of processes concerned and conserving in view of the previous experiences, it might be prudent that ample time be given for migration of shoppers to the New Regulatory Framework 2020 to keep away from any inconvenience to shoppers,” the letter stated.
In accordance with the brand new tariff order (NTO) initially brough out in 2017, shoppers might select the TV channels they need to watch and pay just for them at most retail costs (MRPs) set by broadcasters, as an alternative of the pre-set bouquets supplied earlier. The brand new tariff order was anticipated to make channels cheaper for the patron and supply extra selection. Nevertheless, as soon as carried out, the price of like-to-like channel choices really went up.
To deliver down the price of leisure for the tip client, Trai had introduced amendments to the NTO on 1 January, 2020. As a part of the brand new amendments, Trai diminished the cap on the MRP of particular person channels, which may kind a part of any bouquet, to Rs. 12 from Rs. 19 monthly. The regulator additionally sought to impose twin situations for bouquet formation, successfully introducing a cap on bouquet pricing.
The Indian Broadcasting Basis (now renamed the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Basis), a unified consultant physique of tv broadcasters in India, had moved the Bombay excessive court docket towards Trai’s amended order quickly after it got here out. The excessive court docket had upheld most provisions issued by Trai, after which IBDF went to the Supreme Court docket which additionally refused keep on the excessive court docket order. Over the previous few weeks, a number of broadcasters have introduced value hikes for fashionable channels, conserving them out of bouquets.
Supply: Live Mint