New broadcast tariff rules will cut down DTH, cable TV bills, not raise it; here's how

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has discarded the notion that new rules would increase bill amount of cable TV and DTH consumers in the country.

TRAI said that the primary aim of the new norms is to empower consumers. (Image: AFP)

New Delhi: In the wake of the recently implemented new broadcast tariff regime, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has discarded the notion that new rules would increase bill amount of cable TV and DTH consumers in the country. Rather, TRAI in its recent statement earlier today said that the new framework may actually bring down the TV bill of customers. TRAI’s statement also came in the backdrop of Crisil report which states that the newly implemented changes would result in an increase in bills for the cable TV and Direct-to-Home (DTH) subscribers. Addressing a press conference in the national capital earlier today, TRAI Chairman Ram Sevak Sharma said that the report was prepared on an "inadequate understanding" of the TV distribution market and it was incorrect. “The report is based on choosing top-rated channels on all-India basis and considers only one weekly report dated January 25, 2019, from TV Rating Agency, BARC,” TRAI statement said. Even TRAI Secretary S K Gupta said that in a span of three months, we expect prices of various channels to go down. Global analytic and research firm Crisil shared a report on Monday which said – “The network capacity fee (NCF) and channel prices announced by broadcasters and distributors as per the TRAI’s new guidelines could increase the monthly bill of most subscribers of television channels.” However, the telecom regulating body clarified that as per the regulations, service providers even waive off or give discounts to consumers on the network capacity fee. “The regulator has received several complaints from consumers regarding blackouts on DTH platforms, and offerings of multiple TV connections which TRAI is looking into and has issued necessary guidelines to the operators,” Sharma said. He noted that the primary aim of the new norms is to empower consumers to make their own choices and let the market forces decide the prices. “TRAI has also asked operators to provide options of separate connections and choices of channels for more than one television in a household,” TRAI chairman told reporters.