News Broadcasting

Broadcasters thrilled, cable frat incensed by Trai order

Published

22 years ago

February 19, 2004

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today said that new channels may be launched but the price cannot be out of sync with the prices of similar channels that were existing on or before 26 December, the cut off date for freezing of cable prices.

It also indicated that there is no ceiling on cable operators or service providers but any decrease or increase in number of channels should be calculated on a pro rata basis and that the price freeze order is effective in CAS and non-CAS areas.

After announcement of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Tariff Order 2004, a number of questions had been raised in regard to the underlying import of the provisions of the order by the industry. Through today’s directive, the regulator attempts to clarify certain contentious issues.

Pointing out that Trai has not put any sort of a ceiling or bar on new launches, the clarifications issued by the regulator said, “In such cases, the Tariff Order does not provide any specific ceiling. However, in specifying the relevant charges (cost of a new channel for the subscriber too), the charges that the broadcaster/multi system operator/cable operator might have in place in the contiguous areas/similar channels as on 26 December 2003 should be kept in mind.”

Explaining the rationale behind this, Trai chairman Pradip Baijal told indiantelevision.com in the evening that the clarifications issued by the regulator is more aimed at bringing about a semblance of orderliness in an unorganised industry.

On the pricing of new channels, if launched now, Baijal said, “the basic aim is to see that the consumer does not get affected by industry’s own games. If new channels are to be launched, then the industry needs to absorb a major portion of the cost because the burden of the extra cost or service cannot be passed on to the customer.” Similar calculations would have to be done if the consumer base is sought to be increased by the broadcaster for increased subscription revenue.

For the pay broadcasters, the Trai order came as welcome news but not so for the cable fraternity, who made no bones about their displeasure with the latest directive from the regulator.

“If there is a price freeze, then there is a price freeze. Why should there be calculations done on a pro rata basis?” an executive of Zee Telefilms’ cable arm Siti Cable said.

National Cable & Telecom Association’s Vikki Chowdhry said, “How can Trai think of keeping the consumer immune from any price hike, if the broadcaster raises its subscriber base or pushes for that? It is evident that the government of India is bent on favoring the pay TV channel broadcasters for the sake of their utility in the coming general elections whereby this NDA Government will solely utilize the broadcasting media to their advantage now after giving this sop to the broadcasters.”

“The previous order of Trai dated 15th Jan 04, of freezing the cable subscription was welcomed by cable service providers as well the consumers at large, but after today’s clarification the previous order passed in the consumers’ interest has no meaning left,” an NCTA statement said.

Star India COO Sameer Nair was in a far more positive frame of mind (to put it mildly). “This is very good news,” Nair said. “In any case, we had dropped our price from Rs 30 to Rs 27 so the Trai order serves to underscore an issue that we have constantly been trying to get across. Which is that there has been massive underdeclaration and increasing the subscriber base is a legitimate option that will only improve transparency in the business,” Nair said.

K Jayaraman, CEO of the Rajan Raheja promoted MSO Hathway Datacom (in which Star has a 26 per cent stake) refuses to buy this argument. “If more declaration is demanded, prices have to go up. If Trai implements this then it should also decide the subscription margins that the broadcaster, MSO and cable operator should take home. Otherwise it will just not work.”

SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta was also happy with the latest developments. “It is good that Trai has clarified the matter,” he said.

HTMT group director and CTO KV Seshasayee had this to say: “We believe that Trai probably is not fully informed about the implications of saying the subscriber base numbers can change. This will be used by the broadcasters to force declarations far beyond what the MSOs are getting paid for. It will finally hit the consumer because we will be forced to pass on these extra costs which MSOs cannot bear since we are already incurring huge losses.”

The latest Trai directive has completely taken the wind out of the Cable fraternity’s sails. It remains to be seen how they respond to this setback.

Related Topics:Baijal Broadcasters cable Cable operator Kunal Dasgupta MSO NCTA Trai Vikki Chowdhry

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News Broadcasting

Barc forensic audit in TRP row awaits as Twenty-Four probe gathers pace

Published

4 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

KERALA: A forensic audit commissioned by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has emerged as the centrepiece of the government’s response to fresh allegations of television rating point manipulation involving a regional news channel in Kerala, with both the audit findings and a parallel police investigation still awaited.

Replying to a query in the Lok Sabha, minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan, said Barc had appointed an independent agency to conduct a forensic probe into the conduct of senior personnel allegedly linked to the case.

The move followed media reports claiming that a Barc employee had accepted bribes to manipulate viewership data in favour of a regional television news channel.

“The report from BARC is still awaited,” Murugan told Parliament, signalling that the forensic exercise remains ongoing.

Industry specialists say forensic audits are crucial in alleged TRP fraud cases, as they examine internal controls, data access trails, panel household integrity, staff communications and financial transactions. The outcome could determine whether the alleged manipulation was an isolated breach or a deeper systemic weakness in India’s television measurement framework.

Running alongside the audit, the Kerala Police has formed a special investigation team to probe the allegations. The ministry has sought a preliminary report from the state’s director general of police, including details of action taken on the first information report. That report, too, is yet to be submitted.

The episode has revived long-standing concerns over the vulnerability of India’s TRP system, particularly in regional news markets where competition for ratings is fierce and advertising revenues hinge on weekly viewership rankings.

India’s sole television audience measurement body Barc, has faced scrutiny before, most notably during the nationwide TRP controversy involving news channels in 2020. While tighter compliance norms were introduced in the aftermath, the latest allegations suggest enforcement challenges may persist.

On regulatory consequences, the government said any punitive action against television channels, including suspension or cancellation of uplinking and downlinking permissions, would be governed by the Policy Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels issued in November 2022, and would depend on investigation outcomes and due process.

The ministry also pointed to ongoing efforts to overhaul the ratings ecosystem. Television measurement continues to be regulated under the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, 2014. Draft amendments were released for public consultation in July 2025, followed by a revised version in November 2025, aimed at tightening audit mechanisms and improving transparency and representativeness.

In November 2025, Barc said it had taken note of allegations aired by Malayalam news channel Twenty-Four, which linked an internal employee to irregularities in audience measurement. The council said it had engaged a “reputed independent agency” to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit, underscoring the seriousness of the claims.

The ratings system sits at the heart of India’s broadcast advertising economy, shaping billions of rupees in annual ad spends. With trust in audience data once again under strain, advertisers, broadcasters and regulators are closely watching the outcome of the investigations.

Barc has urged industry stakeholders and media organisations to exercise restraint while the probe is underway, calling for an end to “unverified or speculatory claims” and reiterating its commitment to integrity and accountability.

Until the forensic audit and police findings are submitted and reviewed, the government said it would refrain from drawing conclusions.

News Broadcasting

Rajat Sharma defamation row: Delhi court summons Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh

Published

4 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has ordered the summoning of senior Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh in a criminal case filed by veteran journalist Rajat Sharma, sharpening a legal battle over alleged defamation and doctored digital content.

The order was passed on Monday by Devanshi Janmeja, judicial magistrate first class at Saket Courts, after the court found prima facie grounds to proceed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery, creation of false electronic records and defamation.

Sharma, chairman and editor-in-chief of India TV, had approached the court over allegations made in June 2024 that he had used derogatory language against Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak during a live television debate. He denied the charge, claiming it was fuelled by a manipulated video circulated online.

According to the complaint, a clipped version of the broadcast carrying superimposed captions, which were not part of the original programme, was first shared on social media platform X by Nayak and later amplified through retweets and public statements by Khera and Ramesh. Sharma said the viral spread caused serious reputational harm and personal distress.

The court took note of forensic science laboratory findings that pointed to visible post-production alterations in the video, including added titles and captions. It also cited witness testimonies from those present during the live broadcast, who stated that no abusive or objectionable language had been used.

In a related civil matter, the Delhi High Court had earlier observed a prima facie absence of abusive remarks and directed the removal of the disputed social media posts.

With criminal proceedings now set in motion, the case adds to mounting scrutiny around political messaging, digital manipulation and accountability on social media platforms.

News Broadcasting

Mukesh Ambani, Larry Fink come together for CNBC-TV18 exclusive

Reliance and BlackRock chiefs map the future of investing as global capital eyes India

Published

4 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: India’s capital story takes centre stage today as Mukesh Ambani and Larry Fink sit down for a rare joint television conversation, bringing together two of the most powerful voices in global business at a moment of economic churn and opportunity.

The Reliance Industries chief and the BlackRock boss will speak with Shereen Bhan, managing editor of CNBC-TV18, in an exclusive interaction airing from 3:00 pm on February 4. The timing is deliberate. Geopolitics are tense, technology is disruptive and capital is choosier. India, meanwhile, is pitching itself as a long-term bet.

The pairing is symbolic. Reliance straddles energy transition, digital infrastructure and consumer growth in the world’s fastest-expanding major economy. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, oversees more than $14 tn in assets and sits at the nerve centre of global capital flows. When the two talk, markets tend to listen.

Fink’s appearance marks his third India visit, a signal of the country’s rising strategic weight for the Wall Street-listed firm, which carries a market value above $177 bn. His earlier 2023 trips included an October stop in New Delhi, where he met both Ambani and Narendra Modi.

India is now central to BlackRock’s expansion plans, notably through its joint venture with Jio Financial Services. Announced in July 2023, the 50:50 venture, JioBlackRock, commits up to $150 mn each from the partners to build a digital-first asset-management platform aimed at India’s swelling investor class.

The backdrop is robust. BlackRock ended 2025 with record assets under management of $14.04 tn, helped by $698 bn in net inflows, including $342 bn in the fourth quarter alone. Scale gives Fink both heft and a long lens on where money is moving.

He has been openly bullish on India. At the Saudi-US Investment Summit in Riyadh last year, Fink argued that the “fog of global uncertainty is lifting”, with capital returning to dynamic markets such as India, drawn by reforms, demographics and durable return potential.

Expect the conversation to range beyond balance sheets, into technology’s role in finance, access to capital and the mechanics of sustainable growth in a fracturing world order. For investors and policymakers alike, it is a snapshot of how big money is thinking about India.

At a time when capital is cautious and growth is contested, India wants to be the exception. When Ambani and Fink share a stage, it is less a chat and more a signal. The world’s money is still looking for its next big story, and India intends to be it.