From April, pay ₹130/month for 100 channels on your set-top box

NEW DELHI: You may have to pay ₹130 as monthly rental for 100 standard definition channels on your set-top box from April next year, if the telecom regulator has

NEW DELHI: You may have to pay ₹130 as monthly rental for 100 standard definition channels on your set-top box from April next year, if the telecom regulator has its way.

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In the draft telecommunication (broadcasting and cable services) (eighth) (addressable systems) tariff order, 2016 published on its website, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed a new tariff framework for pricing and packaging of television channels offered to subscribers.

According to the draft order, a total of 100 standard definition channels (one high definition channel is equal to two standard definition channels) will be offered to subscribers at ₹130 (excluding taxes) per month, which will include the channels notified by the central government to be mandatorily provided to subscribers.

Beyond that, the channels will be available in slabs of 25, and an amount of ₹20 (excluding taxes) will be charged per slab. The television broadcasters will have to fix the maximum retail price (excluding taxes) for a-la-carte pay channels offered to subscribers, which can vary in different areas.

Till date, distribution platform operators (DPOs) had an upper hand in deciding the prices to be charged from subscribers. DPOs obtain the television channels (at a negotiated price) from broadcasters and deliver them to subscribers through cable TV, direct-to-home (DTH) operators, and head-end in the sky (HITS) networks.

“A need was felt to evolve a tariff structure that helps consumers choose from an array of attractive and affordable a-lacarte and bundled television broadcasting services as per their preferences and paying capacity,” TRAI said in a statement.

According to the statement, a genre-wise ceiling has also been prescribed on the channel prices barring ‘premium’ channels, which will have no ceiling on maximum retail price (MRP) and will be offered to subscribers only on a-la-carte basis. The MRP of a pay channel transmitted in high definition (HD) format cannot be more than three times the MRP of its standard definition (SD) counterpart, the order said.

A premium channel, as decided by the broadcaster, will not form a part of any bouquet and can only be subscribed by paying separately.

“While framing this draft tariff order, the emphasis of the authority is to ensure transparency, non-discrimination, consumer protection and create an enabling environment for orderly growth of the sector,” Trai said.

The regulator has invited comments from various stakeholders by October 24 on the issue.