NEW DELHI – India’s top cable lobby has sounded the alarm over TRAI’s proposal to slash and eventually scrap licence fees for Direct-to-Home (DTH) operators, warning it could wreck the delicate balance in the country’s broadcast distribution ecosystem.
In a strongly-worded representation to the information and broadcasting ministry, the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) – which represents over 880 multi-system operators (MSOs) and 1.6 lakh local cable operators (LCOs) – said the move would “deepen regulatory inequality” and “threaten over 10 lakh livelihoods” linked to the cable TV industry.
The AIDCF accused TRAI of tilting the scales in favour of DTH players who already enjoy “cost-free, administratively allocated spectrum” while cable operators continue to bleed under high Right of Way (RoW) charges and hefty underground infrastructure investments.
“A DTH licence fee waiver will distort competition and violate regulatory neutrality,” an AIDCF spokesperson said, adding that any cut would hasten subscriber churn from cable to satellite platforms. The body flagged other disruptors like Free Dish, OTTs, Fast TV and digital DPOs as further stress points for the struggling cable sector.
Rather than easing licence costs for satellite platforms, AIDCF wants the government to implement a fair cost recovery mechanism across distribution platforms, reflecting the true commercial value of spectrum. It has urged the ministry to junk TRAI’s recommendation in favour of a level playing field that safeguards the sector’s long-term viability.
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