TRAI pulls up DPOs for non-implementation of broadcasters festive offer

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday directed all the DTH operators and MSOs comply with the various provisions of the New Tariff Order and implement the promotional offers offered by the broadcasters in accordance with the sub-clause (4) of the clause 3 of the Tariff Order, 2017.

The Tariff Order allows broadcasters to provide promotional offers for ninety days not exceeding twice in a year. The price offered under such a promotional offer is considered as the maximum retail price during the period of such a promotional scheme. Star India, Zee Entertainment, Sony Pictures Network India and TV18 Network Limited had rolled out offers with effect from 15th October.

The authority was informed that even after the lapse of several days, some DPOs were yet to implement the promotional schemes offered by the broadcasters on their platform. The authority was also informed that some DPOs did not modify DRPs of channels offered under such promotional schemes on their website, consumer care channel and electronic programme guide.

Keeping in mind, that the non-implementation of promotional schemes by distributors of television channels violates the provisions of the Tariff Order, 2017 and the QoS Regulations, 2017 and is against the interests of subscribers of broadcasting and cable services the authority directed DPOs to carry out its directions.

The authority directed DPOs to –

a) immediately implement the promotional schemes offered by the said broadcasters and modify the Distributor Retail Price (DRP) of the channels;
b) display the modified DRPs of channels offered under promotional schemes on their website, consumer care channel and electronic programme guide;
c) charge from their subscribers, who have subscribed to the channels offered under promotional schemes on an a-la-carte basis, the modified DRPs from the date of the offer of such promotional schemes i.e. 15th October 2019;
d) refund/ adjust the excess subscription amount, if any, charged from the subscribers due to non-implementation of promotional schemes;

The authority also said that the excess subscription amount shall be the difference of DRP of channels pre promotional schemes and the modified DRP of channels post promotional schemes and shall be calculated from 15th October 2019 till the date of extending the benefits of said promotional schemes to subscribers. It directed the DPOs to send compliance of the Direction to the Authority by 1 November 2019.