Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) has stayed its decision to withdraw five of its existing Happy India bouquets from 1st August 2020 after backlash from distribution platform operators led to the broadcasting watchdog TRAI directing broadcasters to publish new Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) in line with the New Tariff Order (NTO) 2.0 by 10th August 2020.
The broadcaster has intimated to distribution platform operators that Happy India 30.5 will continue to be available for DTH and Cable TV subscribers with SPNI backing off on the discontinuation of the bouquets. The packs will continue to be available for the interim due to the implementation of the New Tariff Order 2.0.
A source within the Cable TV Industry on the condition of anonymity confirmed the development. SPNI has sent out the intimation to DPOs about the retention of Happy India 30.5 bouquets however it is yet to send any written document to the distribution platform operators.
Essel Group-owned Dish TV and D2H which had put up landing notices on its websites have also taken it down sometime back. Notably, the TRAI direction on 24th July indirectly noted that the regulator was not informed of the move to discontinue low priced bouquets in clear violation of the reporting compliances mandated by Tariff Order 2017.
While few DPOs intimated its customers about the discontinuation of these bouquets, multiple DPOs restrained itself from doing the same. It is believed the DPOs brought the attention of TRAI about the discontinuation of low priced bouquets which they stated would increase package costs and affect customers.
Credits: Akash Solanki, DreamDTH Community Forum member and Rakesh Kumar
