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TRAI new regulatory framework would make TV choices – ” à la carte “
Important Facts:
“à la carte” means: If you eat à la carte, you choose each dish from a separate list instead of eating a fixed combination of dishes at a fixed price
Reasons for new TRAI regulatory guidelines:
- To address the issue of transparency in cable service and to provide real choice to consumer unrealized since Digitization of cable TV network in March, 2017
Salient Features of TRAI regulatory guidelines:
- New guidelines will come into effect from February 1, 2019
- Applicable to all Direct to Home (DTH) and Local cable operators
- Customers could choose set of channels they want to view rather than pre decided packs provided earlier by service providers
- Customer needs to pay only for channels chosen
- MRP of channels should be display on TV screen through Electronic Program Guide
- Additionally, Distributors and Broadcasters can provide bouquets of channels but with price transparency
- Network Capacity Fees with upper ceiling of Rs 130/ 100 channels.
- High definition channel will be counted as two Standard definition channel for determining network capacity fees
- Subscribers with advanced payment could not be charged higher and would be adjusted if they want to switch to new package wrt February 1, 2019
Benefits of TRAI regulatory guidelines:
- Provide real choice to consumers by allowing them to choose channels set they want to view
- Transparency in cable price through on screen display would reduce monthly cable/DTH bill
- Covers all cable operators providing uniform regulatory standard
- Some educational channels like Swayam Prabha 32 DTH channels would be get wide viewer base
- Provides equal opportunities for all channel for consumer choices
Concerns of TRAI regulatory guidelines:
- Broadcasters concern of drop in subscription of unpopular channels
- Distribution Platform Operators (DPO) concern of drop in their share of revenue
- Possibility of Black Out of TV channels during transition period
