Direct to Home (DTH) operators Sun Direct, Dish TV, and D2h have updated the reduced price of Sony Pictures Network India’s (SPNI) Happy India Packs which were adjusted by the broadcaster in March to compensate for the shutdown of Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD, and Sony MIX.
The websites of the respective DTH operators reflect the reduced MRP of SPNI Happy India Packs. SPNI had reduced the MRP of Happy India Packs by Rs 0.5 to Rs 5.2 depending upon the bouquet. The bouquets which carried all the three shutdown channels i.e MIX, Sony ESPN, and Sony ESPN HD got the major price revision.
Sun Direct, Dish TV, and D2h seem to have updated the price at some point of time in May 2020. To recall, Tata Sky had initially cited its inability to update the new prices in its system back in April due to COVID-19. It had however said that it would provide credits to the customers. Later in May, Tata Sky updated the reduced SPNI bouquet pricing in its systems.
Airtel Digital TV has also updated the bouquet pricing on its systems, however it hasn’t updated the name of the revised bouquets leading to a bit of confusion. The bouquet names are the same as earlier, but the pricing is revised.
Unlike RIO amendments wherein DTH operators need to sign the revised RIO with the broadcaster to implemented the new pricing, in this case the price revision we believe is similar to a direct benefit transfer wherein the bouquet prices are straight away reduced as SPNI has shutdown the channels from its end.
Whether cable TV operators have implemented the revised pricing or not is unknown as most of their customer corners don’t comply with the Quality of Service (QoS) regulations. That said GTPL Hathway’s website reflects old SPNI Happy India Pack prices.
Customers belonging to MSO operators who haven’t updated the revised pricing should approach their operators to update the revised pricing or complain to TRAI to ensure the pricing is as per the broadcaster’s declared pricing.
SPNI Happy India Packs will further see another decrease in pricing effective July 2020 when AXN and AXN HD shutdown. SPNI is yet to notify the revised bouquet pricings effective July 1, post the shutdown of AXN and AXN HD. The same is likely to be updated on SPNI’s website in due course.
Update: The article has been update as Airtel Digital TV has also silently updated the prices.
Check the app screenshot of airtel app.
Hi Ricky,
Happy India 31 is now Happy India 30.5 whereas Airtel currently carries Happy India 31. We checked on the My Airtel app and their website as well before making the story live.
Reduced Bouquet Pricing here – https://dreamdth.com/sony-pictures-network-india-reduces-mrp-of-24-happy-india-pack-impacted-by-channel-shutdowns/
Regards,
Basil
Basil bro! Airtel hasn’t changed the bouquet names but reduced all the bouquet price. For eg. Happy India 30.5 price is Rs.30.5+ (gst) 5.49= 35.99.
Now airtel’s Happy India 31 price is also Rs.30.5+(gst) 5.49= 35.99
Like this all other Sony bouquet price is updated but without changing the bouquet names. As sony dropped channel like espn, mix from its bouquet.
@Ricky bro Thanks for the clarification. Airtel not updating the bouquet name led to confusion. The article has been updated with a note at the bottom.
They should update the bouquet names 🙂
For your kind information airtel dth has also updated Sony India bouquet price.