ITV

Tag: Migration

  • TRAI clarifies network capacity fee for additional TV connections not mandatory

    TRAI clarifies network capacity fee for additional TV connections not mandatory

    MUMBAI: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asserted that Network Capacity Fee (NCF) for second or additional TV connections is not mandatory after many subscribers raised the issue. The regulatory body has also made it clear that the new regime does not prohibit the service providers to offer discount or lower NCF for second or additional connections in the same location or home.

    After the new tariff regime for cable and broadcasting sector came into effect from 1 February, TRAI earlier on Wednesday interacted with the media in New Delhi to discuss a wide array of concerns facing consumers when TRAI also discussed the same issue.

    With many households in India boasting of more than one TV connection, subscribers prefer a cheaper scheme for the second TV. To keep it same under new regime, TRAI sought details of special schemes for provision of second or subsequent connection after a number of subscribers raised the issue. The regulatory body said on Wednesday that it expects DPOs to declare special schemes for multiple connections within a TV home in a day or so. TRAI said it is keeping an eye on the development and will intervene if required.

    The new regulation provides a capping of Rs 130 as NCF for 100 SD channels and Rs 20 for the slab of next 25 SD channels. TRAI added the preliminary data analysis reflects actual savings by subscribers under new regulatory framework to the tune 10 to 15 per cent in metro towns and between 5 to 10 per cent in non-metro (DAS 3 and DAS 4) areas.

  • TRAI expects DPOs to declare special schemes for multiple TV connection households

    TRAI expects DPOs to declare special schemes for multiple TV connection households

    MUMBAI: After Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s new tariff regime empowering citizens to choose channels, came into effect from 1 February, consumers as well as distribution platform operators (DPOs) are facing several issues. To address such concerns, the authority held a press conference at TRAI headquarters in New Delhi.

    One topic discussed was the presence of multiple TV households. These subscribers prefer a cheaper scheme for the second TV. To keep it same under new regime, TRAI has sought details of special schemes for provision of second or subsequent connection. The regulatory body expects that DPOs will declare special schemes for multiple connections within a TV home in a day or so. TRAI said it is keeping an eye on the development and will intervene if required.

    While TRAI has always promoted the view that the new order will put power in the hands of consumers, there have been speculations that it will actually increase the monthly pay TV bill. Recently, ratings agency Crisil also published a report on price hike along the same line. TRAI refuted the report saying it is not based on focused analysis and research.

    “The report is based on choosing top rated channels on all India basis and considers only one weekly report dated 25th January 2019, from TV Rating Agency, BARC. The selection of channels by subscribers is primarily driven by language, genre, region and culture. The report fails to appreciate that even among top three channels, that is Sun TV, Zee Anmol and Star Maa, the language is Tamil, Hindi and Telugu respectively,” TRAI commented.

    TRAI has claimed so based on the logic that it is unlikely to expect one family to choose Tamil, Hindi and Telugu channel simultaneously. The regulatory body added that this is more glaring in the scenario where TV channels of Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bangla, Malayalam and English have been considered together.

    Apart from lashing out at the report for “misleading subscribers”, TRAI added the preliminary data analysis reflects actual savings by subscribers to the tune 10 to 15  per cent  in metro towns and between 5 to 10 per cent in non-metro (DAS 3 and DAS 4) areas.

    TRAI has again assured that subscribers availing pre-paid services will face no disruption, if there is a credit balance available in the subscriber’s wallet/ account.

    “The authority received information that while migrating consumers, one large service provider has caused blackout on the TV screen of a few-thousand subscribers. Taking a serious view, the authority has issued show cause notice to that service provider,” it added. DPOs were strictly told to cause no disruption in services. 

  • Siti Networks in Kolkata to migrate pay channels to new TRAI tariff scheme in phased manner

    Siti Networks in Kolkata to migrate pay channels to new TRAI tariff scheme in phased manner

    MUMBAI: Essel group promoted multi-system operator (MSO) Siti Network has planned to migrate Pay TV channels in Kolkata in a phased manner to get non-compliant subscribers to transition to the new TRAI tariff regime. While around 80 per cent of the MSO's 14 lakh subscribers were still to pick their pay channels from an a-la-carte list.

    According to a report from The Telegraph, the MSO will start the process before the grace period given by Calcutta High Court in a recent order.

    “About 20 per cent of our customers have filled in forms online or offline, specifying the channels they want to watch. We have shifted most of them to the channels of their choice. We will now start shifting the others who have not exercised their choices to the new system by withdrawing their pay channels. They will continue to get the free-to-air channels,” Siti Cable director Suresh Sethia said.

    If there is chaos after the migration, the company might start moving some of the subscribers to combinations closest to their current packs. According to the report, another MSO is expected to move subscribers to a combination of channels that can be accommodated within the pricing brackets they are currently in.

    “Since most pay channels are now priced higher than they were in the previous system, they will obviously miss out on some, if not several. The only way out is for them to register their choices immediately,” an official was quoted by The Telegraph.

    Earlier Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) extended the deadline for consumer migration to new plans till January 31. Despite the additional month, several MSOs complained that the majority of subscribers had not responded to the grace period making transition very difficult.

    80 cable operators from the city also filed a petition against the order in Calcutta High Court and initially got a stay too. But the high court vacated the stay.