ITV

Tag: Electronic Program Guide

  • Trai directs DPOs to comply with provisions of interconnection regulations

    Trai directs DPOs to comply with provisions of interconnection regulations

    Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has directed all distribution platform operators (DPOs) to ensure compliance with the provisions of the interconnection regulations pertaining to the listing and display of TV channels on the electronic programme guide (EPG).

    The telecom regulator has also asked DPOs to furnish a compliance report within fifteen days from the date of issue of the direction.

    After analysing the data received from multi-system operators (MSOs), Trai observed that some MSOs have failed to comply with the provisions under interconnection regulations relating to the listing of channels in EPG and display of channels in EPG.

    In a letter dated 17 September 2020, Trai had advised all MSOs to ensure compliance with the provisions of the interconnection regulations related to assigning a unique channel number for each TV channel available on the distribution network and indicating genre of TV channels as declared by broadcaster in the interconnection agreement and to submit to the authority data with respect to the same.

    As per the regulations, “every broadcaster shall declare the genre of its channels and such genre shall be either ‘Devotional’ or ‘General Entertainment’ or ‘Infotainment’ or ‘Kids’ or ‘Movies’ or ‘Music’ or ‘News and Current Affairs’ or ‘Sports’ or ‘Miscellaneous.”

    “It shall be mandatory for the distributor to place all the television channels available on its platform in the electronic programme guide, in such a manner that all the television channels of a particular language in a genre are displayed together consecutively and one television channel shall appear at one place only.”

    “Every distributor of television channels shall assign a unique channel number for each television channel available on the distribution network.”

  • TRAI backs NTO 2.0, says amendment to create level playing field

    TRAI backs NTO 2.0, says amendment to create level playing field

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory and Authority of India (TRAI) has backed the amendments made in the New Tariff Order (NTO) claiming it to be consumer-friendly. Issuing a statement, TRAI said that it will create a level playing field for all stakeholders in the broadcasting industry.

    The regulator believes that transparent mechanism needs to be adopted to encourage the market discovery of channel price, but any attempt to scuttle consumer choice through non-transparent pricing practices means need to be discouraged.

    Hence, the authority quoted that the intended benefit for consumers to enable the freedom of choice could not be achieved completely due to misuse of available flexibility by a group of service providers.

    Meanwhile, it also clarified that the concern of all the broadcasters regarding placement fee and misuse by few  distribution platform operators (DPO) manipulating Electronic Program Guide (EPG) has also been addressed.

    The release added that post the implementation of NTO, some broadcasters had enhanced their channel prices drastically. This price increase is anti-consumer and forces regulatory interventions. Adding further it said, “The broadcasters, however, continue to have full flexibility to price their channel as Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of any channel remains in forbearance.”

    It further said, “The amendments through NTO 2.0 have left the basic structure of the regulatory framework unchanged with very minor modifications. And it’s targeted to address teething problems relating to smooth implementation.”

    The new amendments provide complete freedom to broadcasters/ DPOs to price their services while ensuring that consumers get the freedom to choose the TV channels, the regulator explained.

    As the amendments provide appropriate time to stakeholders for implementation, consumers will be able to benefit as per the amended provisions with effect from 1 March 2020.

    TRAI also said that the new amendments will usher in better offerings, reduced NCF, more flexible tariff schemes and more choices for consumers.

    On 1 January 2020, the regulator had amended the NTO which created a panic-like situation within the broadcaster and service provider community to opt for the legal option against the new TRAI order.

    TRAI had come up with a slew of measures in the recent amended that it claims are customer-focused. It has asked the broadcasters to come up with the new price list of channels by 15 January 2020.