Tata Sky suggests removing One Year LCN Lock-In Period

[Basil]

Response dated 23 Sep to TRAI

 

[dino29]

So this is why they halted decision to change LCN and same must be impacting others too. I think TRAI should allow changes in channel numbers but chronology should have 1 year lock in. Also operators should be allowed to charge placement fee from big broadcasters for best visible slots just like carriage fee is taken from FTA channels for being added on platform. This however needs some regulation so that everyone gets fair chance and excess burden is not put on broadcasters

 

[hike]

I don't care until unless I had well organised favourite option in Tata Sky. 900 onwards all favourite channels.

 

[Rajat Basak]

Carriage fee is taken from FTA channels for being added on platform. This however needs some regulation so that everyone gets fair chance and excess burden is not put on broadcasters.

1. Is carriage fee of FTA channel same for all cable and DTH or different?
2. One Country, One LCN. is that possible in future?

 

[Ramesh12]

I don't care until unless I had well organised favourite option in Tata Sky. 900 onwards all favourite channels.

Atleast favourite Chanel number should start from 0 or 1

 

[asgworldindia]

So this is why they halted decision to change LCN and same must be impacting others too.

TS halted their Program not only for this Rule but Failure of Mutual Understanding between Broadcasters vs TS. Because A Big Broadcaster has raised their Objection by using this Rule or 1 Year Lock In from Trai. And it left helpless to TS as their Management was expecting more incentives by providing Near LCN which that Big Broadcaster felt unlawful according to TRAI. And as You have said Yes this Lock In Rule also pushed Airtel Digital TV in Back to hold / Rearrange 4 Digital LCN Arrangements.

I think TRAI should allow changes in channel numbers but chronology should have 1 year lock in. Also operators should be allowed to charge placement fee from big broadcasters for best visible slots just like carriage fee is taken from FTA channels for being added on platform. This however needs some regulation so that everyone gets fair chance and excess burden is not put on broadcasters

%Agreed with You @dino29 Bhai. Trai should give Freedom to Every DPOS to arrange their LCN and give that Flexibility to rearrange the LCN in accordance to 'Genre Wise'. DPO also needs that Freedom to operate their LCN with Mutual Understanding with the Broadcasters. And I think this Lock In should be Maximum of 6 months from the date of Allotment of LCN to that Broadcaster.

1. Is carriage fee of FTA channel same for all cable and DTH or different?
2. One Country, One LCN. is that possible in future?

The Reality :-
1.Trai have make a Rule regarding Carriage Fee of FTA Channel. It depends on Subscriber Counts of any particular Cable & DTH operators. It also depends on and over the Reach of that Cable or DTH Operator.
Example:- You cannot expect Same Carriage Fee of a FTA Channel be same on Sun Direct in compare to TATA|sky. That's why Bengali Music Channel "Bangla Talkies" added firstly on Sun Direct (providing Less Carriage Fee) before TATA|sky (where Carriage Fee is quite High for that Channel).
But there is Upper Limit framed by Trai to help very Low Viewing FTA Channels.
2."One Nation - One LCN" idea is Fantastic but in Future it will not help any DPOS because Each & Every Cable DTH Operators have certain Mutual Agreements with Each & Every Broadcasters + Distributors regarding Incentives and Payments. So in true sence again Each Operators will have their Own Landing Page and LCN allotments to gain more Lucreative Incentives which will help to raise their ARPU. (Annual Revenue Per Unit)

Atleast favourite Chanel number should start from 0 or 1

Agreed @Ramesh12 Brother. The Favourites should be scheduled between LCN 0001 to LCN 0100. At least 100 Slots should be provided by Every DPOS to their respective Subscribers because more than 100+ Channels are being Subscribed nowadays. So Yes - it will also be helpful for Senior Citizens or Elderly People to remember Favourite LCN between 1 to 100.

 

[Rajat Basak]

@asgworldindia : Thanks for your reply...

 

[Basil]

TDSAT lays down the law on One Year Lock-In.

Any LCN change without the broadcaster's approval can only happen when the lock-in period expires in January 2020.

P.S - However it can be changed if the broadcaster is fine with it as we have seen Dish-d2h already change few channels LCN and other DTH operators also changing LCNs of different channels.

The Tribunal noted that as per the new regime the date of assignment of LCN cannot be earlier than 01 February 2019 as TRAI had issued Press Note on 28.12.2018 which required new agreements to come in force from 01 February. The one year LCN lock-in period would have come in then only. Zee pointed out that Den’s JVs were not legally obliged to disturb the LCNs of petitioner’s channels at least for one year i.e January 2020.

Finding merit in Zee’s claim TDSAT ruled that DEN ADN and CCN DEN had illegally changed Zee channels LCN before the expiry of the prescribed period of minimum one year which has to be counted from 01 February 2019 when the new regulations came into effect. It directed that Zee’s channels should be restored to the earlier LCN forthwith and in any case within two days from the order date.

DEN Network JVs illegally changed Zee LCNs : TDSAT | DreamDTH