Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has ordered that cable and DTH companies offer a set of 100 basic channels (Standard Definition) at a price of Rs 130 which may or may not include your favourite channels. This is something many people who use satellite internet or other cable providers have likely considered before.
According to a recent report,TRAI announced that Cable TV/ DTH will actually become cheaper after the new regulations are enforced.
The new regulatory framework has come into effect on 29th December 2018. However, keeping in view the consumer convenience and to provide sufficient time to the consumers for exercising the options the Authority provided time up to 31 st January 2019.
While several broadcasters are advertising their channels in the form of bouquets, customer will soon have the option to choose channels on a-la-carte basis also.
The maximum retail price (MRP) of a channel on a-la-carte can be viewed in the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) or Menu of their TV screens. TRAI further states that Distribution Platform Operator (DPO) such as cable operators, DTH operators may provide a discount on the MRP displayed on the EPG.
Every DPO has been requested to run Consumer Information channel preferably on channel No. 999 wherein consumer-related information including the prices of channels on a-la-carte and bouquets are made available.
A consumer has complete freedom to choose their desired 100 Standard Definition (SD) channels within the network capacity fee of maximum Rs. 130/-.
The desired channels could be in A-la-carte Free to Air channels or Pay channels or bouquet of pay channels or any combination thereof. The choice completely rests with the consumers, TRAI said.
Our team called customer care of a leading DTH provider to check on the implementation, however, they stated that had no updates received from their management team and wouldn’t be able to comment on it.
When quizzed about the annual plan several consumers have signed for, they stated that their packs will be continued and there will be no change. This could mean that pre-paid annual customers may be forced to pay for several channels that they do not ever tune in to…
Girish Nayak, Senior city professional says, This is a welcome move as most of the time just for one channel you need to upgrade the whole pack you’re using. A-la carte is definitely going to be cost-effective.
However, on enquiring with the DTH customer service they say that they don’t have any details about the same, Nor is the channel 999 showing anything informative.
It is really confusing for the customers. Also, there is no information about the free channels, If they declare the list, it would be easier for customers to choose.
Vasudha Murthy, Banker says, Most of the TV channels are selling their channels in a fixed bouquet which is really not consumer friendly. If every channel has their individual price, it should be advertised likewise.
Moreover, consumers are still very confused as their providers have not cleared anything. Am not a DTH user, and our cable operator has still not given us any notification or list of channels with the prices.
Murthy further shares how the Cable operator clearly said that it was not possible for him to provide the channels according to their list, as this will add to his work!
Am sure the cable operators must be planning to fix some package and thrust it upon us customers. All the same, TRAI has also stated that if the customers complaint/ query isn’t resolved within 72 hrs the provider needs to provide the service for free. Incidentally, our cable operator has refused to comply with this too.
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#All views expressed in this article are those of the individual respondents and Pune365 does not necessarily subscribe to them.
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