The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has notified amendments to the regulatory framework for broadcasting and cable services.
A consultation document on media ownership concerns and monopolistic activities by a few corporations was published by TRAI in April. Based on the responses received, the telecom regulator amended the Tariff Order 2017 and Interconnection Regulations 2017.
“The provisions related to network capacity fee (NCF), multi-TV homes and long-term subscriptions of the New Regulatory Framework 2020, have already been implemented and due benefits are being passed on to the consumer at large. Every consumer now can get 228 TV channels instead of 100 channels earlier, in a maximum NCF of INR130,” said the telecom regulatory authority’s announcement.
“It has enabled consumers to reduce their NCF for availing of a similar number of channels as per the 2017 framework, by an estimated cost varying from INR40 to INR50. Additionally, the amended NCF for multi-TV homes have enabled further savings for consumers to the tune of 60% on second (and more) television sets,” it added.
Under the new norms, all broadcasters will have to notify any change in name, nature, language, monthly channel subscription rate, and composition and the rate of bouquets of channels, by 16 December 2022. They also must publish such information on their websites. Broadcasters who have already submitted their statement in compliance with the New Regulatory Framework 2020 can revise it by 16 December 2022.
All distributors of television channels must ensure that services to subscribers are provided as per the bouquets or channels they chose, with effect from 1 February 2023.
