The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on 7th May 2022 has issued Consultation paper on Issues related to New Regulatory Framework for Broadcasting and Cable services. The paper, issued after the deliberations of a stakeholder committee to discuss the implementation of new regulations, is sympathetic to the challenges faced by the TV broadcasting sector while also trying to avoid likely disruption for consumers.
According to the consultation paper, DPOs, local cable operators (LCOs) and consumer organisations approached TRAI highlighting the difficulties in implementation of the new tariff order. These included: price hike for consumers, change in the composition of offerings, the impact of easy availability of TV content on OTT (over the top platforms), issues in implementing these new rates in their systems and in migrating consumers to the new tariff regime etc.
In order to address the issues as identified by the stakeholders’ committee; the Authority is issuing this consultation paper for seeking stakeholders’ comments on points / issues which are pending for full implementation of New Regulatory Framework 2020. This paper primarily discusses issues related to discount given in the formation of the bouquet, ceiling price of channels for inclusion in bouquet, and discount offered by broadcasters to DPOs in addition to distribution fee.
Written comments on the consultation paper are invited from the stakeholders by 30th May 2022. Counter comments, if any, may be submitted by 6th June 2022. The comments and counter-comments may be sent, preferably in electronic form on the email ID advbcs-2@trai.gov.in and jtadvbcs-1@trai.gov.in.
