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

[iphifi]

Offering of basic service tier by distributors of television channels.---(1) Every distributor of television channels shall offer at least one bouquet, referred to as basic service tier, of one hundred free-to-air channels including all the channels to be mandatorily provided as notified by the Central Government to all the subscribers and such bouquet shall contain at least five channels of each genre as referred to in the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017: Provided that in case sufficient number of free-to-air channels of a particular genre are not available on the network, the distributor of television channels shall be free to include the channels of other genres.

In point 5 TRAI says basic service tier of 100 FTA channels is mandatory.

Explanation: For removal of any doubt it is hereby clarified that such bouquet shall be one of the options available to a subscriber. However, the subscriber, as per his requirement, shall have complete freedom to choose either bouquet of basic service tier or any other bouquet of pay channels or any other bouquet of free-to-air channels or a-la-carte pay channelsor a-la-carte free-to-air channels available on the platform of the distributor of television channels or a combination thereof.

But under that in 'explanation', they say subscriber has freedom to choose only as alacarte also.

 

[Justlita22]

What will be All Sports pack SD + HD Bouquet under TRAI ?

 

[Ashok Varma]

What will be All Sports pack SD + HD Bouquet under TRAI ?

STAR not announced the rates as per TRAI Tariff Order. but SONY announces the MRP of each Sports channel (LA CARTE) is Rs.19 for SD or HD.
No sports specific pack in SONY network.

 

[simplysouth]

Quest

In point 5 TRAI says basic service tier of 100 FTA channels is mandatory.

But under that in 'explanation', they say subscriber has freedom to choose only as alacarte also.

Question is what will be base pack and what all channels offered. Except star channel we know the prices of alacarte.

 

[iphifi]

Quest
Question is what will be base pack and what all channels offered. Except star channel we know the prices of alacarte.

Basic service tier pack can have any 100 fta channels, with minimum 5 FTA channel in each genre. If genre does not have 5 FTA channel then no need to follow this rule. My guess is that this base pack will be a complete waste. The question really is can we take pay channel bouquets without this base pack.

 

[Ashok Varma]

Basic service tier pack can have any 100 fta channels, with minimum 5 FTA channel in each genre. If genre does not have 5 FTA channel then no need to follow this rule. My guess is that this base pack will be a complete waste. The question really is can we take pay channel bouquets without this base pack.

No. Base pack is mandatory (Rs.130+GST)

 

[iphifi]

No. Base pack is mandatory (Rs.130+GST)

No. For that they have to repeal Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2011. Here it's mentioned that this regulation was done to strengthen the 2011 amendment. Also following is mentioned in new Tariff order:
"For removal of any doubt it is hereby clarified that such bouquet shall be one of the options available to a subscriber. However, the subscriber, as per his requirement, shall have complete freedom to choose either bouquet of basic service tier or any other bouquet of pay channels or any other bouquet of free-to-air channels or a-la-carte pay channelsor a-la-carte free-to-air channels available on the platform of the distributor of television channels or a combination there of. "

 

[Ashok Varma]

No. For that they have to repeal Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2011. Here it's mentioned that this regulation was done to strengthen the 2011 amendment. Also following is mentioned in new Tariff order:
"For removal of any doubt it is hereby clarified that such bouquet shall be one of the options available to a subscriber. However, the subscriber, as per his requirement, shall have complete freedom to choose either bouquet of basic service tier or any other bouquet of pay channels or any other bouquet of free-to-air channels or a-la-carte pay channelsor a-la-carte free-to-air channels available on the platform of the distributor of television channels or a combination there of. "

If it implement, Good for subscriber.

 

[Ashok Varma]

But in the Order,
It was further proposed that distributors of television channels would charge a monthly rental amount of maximum Rs. 130/-
(excluding taxes) per month from a subscriber for subscribing a network capacity of 100 SD channels.

 

[iphifi]

But in the Order,
It was further proposed that distributors of television channels would charge a monthly rental amount of maximum Rs. 130/-
(excluding taxes) per month from a subscriber for subscribing a network capacity of 100 SD channels.

It remains to be seen what operators will do. 2011 Bill is passed by parliament that already allows subscriber to take alacarte base pack of Rs.150 (excluding tax). TRAI cannot override parliament. Also if we want to take even 1 FTA channel we may be forced to pay 130/- or 20/- because FTA channels have this 'Network Capacity Fee'. Pay channels do not have this fee.