Good News TRAI wins the tariff order case against Star in Supreme Court

[shubhr]

This is actually a blessing in disguise for customers....
TRAI has fixed MRP of 19 per channel which broadcasters have accepted more than happily. It means that actual cost per channel is very less than this MRP. So much so that they can sell it at reduced retail price individually or in bouquet with less popular channels, in effect, also helping those channels to reach more people. Currently we can see that channel price of most popular channel in some bouquets even now is 40% of MRP. (take Times bouquet3 as an example).
TRAI has also fixed NCF of 130 max for service provider. They are also seemingly happy there. So much so that they are willing to let go of additional incremental fees beyond 100. In some cases like that of SUN, they are ready to forego NCF completely. Clearly, all providers can reduce their NCF considerably.
All extra and hidden premium fees like HDAF in case of Tatasky and Airtel is gone.
New connection installation & activation charges are fixed at 350+150=500.
Set top box portability is also promised by year end.
Now only differentiation among providers is quality of service and differentiation among broadcasters is quality of channel content.
In coming times because of seemingly high initial prices people will choose their pack wisely and won't keep non-quality channel in their subscription. So pressure will be on broadcasters to create quality content. Less popular channels will not survive and most popular channels will compete resulting in reduction of their prices from broadcasters....
This is interesting time really to be a subscriber now.
With Jio Giga fibre coming in march and increasing popularity and success of quality streaming sites/apps like netflix/ amazon prime/ hotstar etc... pressure will again be on cable business service providers. All providing similar priced channels can only discount from their end in the form of reducing NCF/ increasing number of channels/ reducing retail price from their profit margin in MRP...thus reducing the retail price of channels.
So people... don't curse TRAI outrightly....let the dust settle down. Consumer is always the king when things are this transparent.
Only future from now on is reduction of retail price/ reducing the NCF from broadcasters and providers respectively

 

[Ramesh Dhiman]

TRAI want to close many channels and make the people un-employed who have there jobs with less famous channels.

 

[ramesh skyPLAY]

Nobody can add any tax in MRP. So the ₹ 19 is purchasing rate+ tax.

 

[aravindan]

broadcasters & their right hand TRAI.
Better broadcasters can deploy employees on each streets of India to beg Rs.19 from households..

Don't pay a single penny for a "single pay channel"..
It's our only way to oppose.

Rs. 200 pack become Rs.500 now.
Rs.550 platinum pack become Rs.1500 now.

Hats off you *u***** broadcasters & TRAI

 

[Ronak Shah]

NCF Should be Abolished Completely. Because in the name of NCF they are providing channels which are free and maximum channels we are not even watching. So why we should pay for that? Secondly due to NCF total pay is increasing directly by 153 (130+GST) which is too costly.

So I Want to Ask TRAI Committee :-
1. If one side you are telling that "Only Pay the Channel You Watch" OR "Pay Per Channel" than why should I Pay NCF over and above per channel price?
2. Secondly You also telling it is for Customer Interest than why in New Tariff Plan my monthly subscription cost goes high by 150+ and still many channels I need to compromise?

I also request the members of this forum to Please Raise the Voice against this NCF Policy.

 

[Akash Solanki]

TRAI grapples with court cases even as new regulatory framework comes into effect - TelevisionPost: Latest News, India’s Television, Cable, DTH, TRAI

 

[ramesh skyPLAY]

Now I selected these channels only. Many Bros told in DDF . If we deselect the pay channels, automatically the broadcasters reduce the rate. I avoid the all stars sports channels. And we watch after 3 months.

Zee Tamil HD.

 

[shubhr]

NCF Should be Abolished Completely. Because in the name of NCF they are providing channels which are free and maximum channels we are not even watching. So why we should pay for that? Secondly due to NCF total pay is increasing directly by 153 (130+GST) which is too costly.

So I Want to Ask TRAI Committee :-
1. If one side you are telling that "Only Pay the Channel You Watch" OR "Pay Per Channel" than why should I Pay NCF over and above per channel price?
2. Secondly You also telling it is for Customer Interest than why in New Tariff Plan my monthly subscription cost goes high by 150+ and still many channels I need to compromise?

I also request the members of this forum to Please Raise the Voice against this NCF Policy.

Channels price now goes to broadcaster and NCF is the only revenue for service provider like TS/ Airtel. TRAI has ensured both get to earn and fixed a ceiling (maximum limit). 19 for channel and 130 for NCF.
At present both channel broadcasters and service providers are asking their maximum from us customers...and THIS the reason ur price is going up. Broadcasters will see tough challenge to earn from their every channel and providers will compete selling same thing at same price so they both will concentrate upon quality to differentiate and u as customer will choose selective quality content only. So now on they will have no option but to pass on their profit margin to customers hence reducing channel prices eventually and NCF respectively. It's simple maths...
in a market if every seller is selling same thing at same highest price then only a few will buy and that too randomly. Later on whichever seller has customer friendly service will win over other seller's customers and also needs to lower his margin to sell. U will see equilibrium in market again but now in favor of customers.... just wait and see. game has just begun....

 

[shreyaskini]

Now I selected these channels only. Many Bros told in DDF . If we deselect the pay channels, automatically the broadcasters reduce the rate. I avoid the all stars sports channels. And we watch after 3 months.

Zee Tamil HD.

Bro what about Star sports Select for premier league? you watch football right? I hate watching football online since the streams are buffering even with fast internet

 

[Ronak Shah]

Channels price now goes to broadcaster and NCF is the only revenue for service provider like TS/ Airtel. TRAI has ensured both get to earn and fixed a ceiling (maximum limit). 19 for channel and 130 for NCF.
At present both channel broadcasters and service providers are asking their maximum from us customers...and THIS the reason ur price is going up. Broadcasters will see tough challenge to earn from their every channel and providers will compete selling same thing at same price so they both will concentrate upon quality to differentiate and u as customer will choose selective quality content only. So now on they will have no option but to pass on their profit margin to customers hence reducing channel prices eventually and NCF respectively. It's simple maths...
in a market if every seller is selling same thing at same highest price then only a few will buy and that too randomly. Later on whichever seller has customer friendly service will win over other seller's customers and also needs to lower his margin to sell. U will see equilibrium in market again but now in favor of customers.... just wait and see. game has just begun....

Ok But I have one query what if I select some particular channels and broadcaster bouquets today and tomorrow I need to add more channels on it. Can I do that?

Because I have seen that lock-in period is 30 days so is it applicable for deletion of channel only. OR our selection will be freeze for alteration for 30 days? Please guide.