ITV

Tag: RIO

  • TRAI tariff & quality of services regulations

    TRAI tariff & quality of services regulations

    NEW DELHI: The maximum retail price of a general entertainment television channel under the digital addressable system cannot exceed Rs 12 and that of a sports channel cannot go above Rs 19, according to the draft of the DAS tariff order issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

    The maximum prices of other genres are: movies – Rs 10, infotainment – Rs nine, kids – Rs seven, news and current affairs – Rs five, and devotional – Rs three.

    Even as the TRAI permitted broadcasters to offer bouquets if they wish to, it has said that the total price of the bouquet will not exceed 85 per cent of the total individual price of each of the channels in such a bouquet.

    Furthermore, as consumers are often unsure of the fact that free to air channels are not be charged, the Authority has decided that bouquets of pay channels and FTA channels have to be separate — there can be no bundling of pay and FTA channels both, at the broadcaster as well as at the distributor of television channels level, as it will help to reduce forced bundling of packages with FTA channels in view of fixed fee/CPS deals being executed by the broadcasters. The Tariff order states that broadcasters will have to qualify a channel as a pay TV or a free channel.

    All stakeholders have been asked to respond to the tariff order draft by 24 October, after which TRAI will form its final opinion and issue the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) (Eighth) (Addressable Systems) Tariff Order 2016.

    The maximum retail price of a pay channel transmitted in SD format in a given genre shall not exceed the rate specified for such genre.  

    The maximum retail price of a pay channel transmitted in HD format shall not be more than three times the maximum retail price of corresponding channel transmitted in SD format, But if the corresponding SD channel of a HD channel is not available, the maximum retail price of such HD channel shall not exceed three times the rate specified for corresponding genre.

    The ceiling on maximum retail price shall apply to all the existing pay channels as well as to new pay channels that are launched or converted from free to air channel to pay channel after the commencement of this tariff order.

    In the new framework, the number of genres has been reduced to 7 from existing 11. Some of the existing genres have been grouped together to form a new genre, while some genres have been retained.

    In case a genre has been retained as it is, the maximum retail price of a channel to the customer in that genre will be 1.20 times the existing price cap for that genre for addressable systems. In case, multiple genres have been clubbed to form a new genre, maximum retail price of a channel in that genre to the customer will be 1.20 times the existing price cap of that genre which has the highest price cap for addressable systems.

    Meanwhile, TRAI also issued a draft of the Standards of Quality of Service and Consumer Protection (Digital Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2016 and wanted stakeholders to react to these by 25 October 2016.

    The broadcaster will have to ensure that the maximum retail price of such bouquet of pay channels in a relevant geographical area shall be uniform for all distribution platforms in that area; that it should not contain any free to air channel or HD or SD variants of the same channels or any premium channels.

    The Q of S Regulations have addressed almost every aspect of the cable TV ecosystem going forward fixing the responsibility of the broadcaster, the cable TV platform, the distributor and consumer. It covers everything from subscriber management systems to disconnection and reconnection of services to a la carte pricing to package pricing to the tariffs that can be charged by cable TV operators, MSOs, and broadcasters to billing to creating consumer awareness about DAS. 

    Referring to the discussions it held with stakeholders, TRAI says the Authority had prescribed a genre-ceiling subject to inflation linked hikes. All the channels have to prescribe channel rate in accordance with the applicable genre-ceilings in non-addressable and addressable systems.

    Some broadcasters had submitted that they agree with genre-wise pricing, maximum and minimum defined for channel pricing with regular revision of caps from time to time.

    Broadcasters have also submitted that the price cap should be based on channel popularity, number of channels in a particular genre and actual viewership based on distributor of television channels disclosures. They have further opined that a maximum of 33% discount on wholesale price across all genres must be allowed with the frequency to revisit genre ceilings be 1 to 2 years.

    A majority of the distributors of television channels have submitted that the price caps may be determined by TRAI using the existing commercial agreements data filed with TRAI.

    According to them, one such method to arrive the genre-wise price caps can be a simple average of current RIO rates of channels in a genre. Most of the distributors of television channels have further submitted that there exists and inverse relation between price of a channel and popularity-viewership. As a-la-carte rates increase, penetration of the channel decreases thereby decreasing ad-revenue. They are of the opinion that a maximum of 40-50% discounts should be allowed on the RIO rates for fair and non-discriminatory pricing of channels to all the distributors of television channels. They further suggested that the frequency to revisit genre ceilings may be 1- 5 years.

    The existing framework for genre ceiling is working well. Therefore in order to have continuity, the Authority is of the view that existing genre ceiling should continue. However, in the new framework, broadcasters will provide distribution fee of 20% on the MRP to distributors of television channels. Accordingly, the Authority has proposed a new genre-ceiling for MRP to customers with adequate scope to cater for additional business margins at 20% of the existing genre ceilings for addressable systems. It is expected that the prices will be regulated by the market forces based on the demand of channels or TRP.

    Also Read:  TRAI releases draft tariff & consumer DAS regulations

  • Mavis to restore Jaya signals to Asianet in October: TDSAT

    Mavis to restore Jaya signals to Asianet in October: TDSAT

    NEW DELHI: Mavis Satcom Ltd has been directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to restore the connection to Asianet Satellite Communication Ltd from 1 October 2016.

    Before that, Mavis and Asianet will sign the interconnect agreement, member B B Srivastava said in his directive of 19 September 2016.

    Listing the matter for 18 October, the Tribunal however made clear that this would be without prejudice to the rights and contentions of either party.

    The Tribunal was informed by the Mavis that the Jaya TV signals are now being supplied only on HD format and according ot Mavis’ communication to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the rate is Rs 40 per subscriber per month. With regard to other three channels – Jaya Plus, JMOVIE and JAYAMAX – the rates of Mavis as per existing published RIO are Rs 1.68, Rs 2 .52 and Rs 2.52 respectively per subscriber per month.

    Mavis counsel Meet Malhotra submitted that their RIO is under updation and would be published on their website soon.

  • Mavis to restore Jaya signals to Asianet in October: TDSAT

    Mavis to restore Jaya signals to Asianet in October: TDSAT

    NEW DELHI: Mavis Satcom Ltd has been directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to restore the connection to Asianet Satellite Communication Ltd from 1 October 2016.

    Before that, Mavis and Asianet will sign the interconnect agreement, member B B Srivastava said in his directive of 19 September 2016.

    Listing the matter for 18 October, the Tribunal however made clear that this would be without prejudice to the rights and contentions of either party.

    The Tribunal was informed by the Mavis that the Jaya TV signals are now being supplied only on HD format and according ot Mavis’ communication to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the rate is Rs 40 per subscriber per month. With regard to other three channels – Jaya Plus, JMOVIE and JAYAMAX – the rates of Mavis as per existing published RIO are Rs 1.68, Rs 2 .52 and Rs 2.52 respectively per subscriber per month.

    Mavis counsel Meet Malhotra submitted that their RIO is under updation and would be published on their website soon.

  • Catch ’em young: Ministry hunts for sports talent

    Catch ’em young: Ministry hunts for sports talent

    NEW DELHI: The Sports Ministry is to set up a Talent Search Portal shortly to give a fair opportunity to talented children from every nook and corner of the country to pursue their dreams of achieving excellence in sports. Jolted by the poor performance of India at the Rio Olympics, the ministry had already begun a process to examine India’s performance.

    The plan is to target talented children of eight years and above.
    Efforts will be made to involve National Sports Federations, corporate houses and other stake-holders in the programme.

    Sports Minister Vijay Goel said in a statement that details of the performance and potential of a child including video and photographs could be uploaded on the portal by children, their parents, relatives, teachers and others on the portal. A format will be available on the portal to capture the key details of the child.

    After due scrutiny, children with potential will be given an opportunity to appear for a battery of tests which could be conducted at the nearest Sports Authority of India Centre and others. Those who pass will be admitted to the training centres of SAI.

    The ministry will also persuade the state governments and others to admit some of such children in their centres. Such talented children who are not able to leave their current places of residence for any reason may be offered a scholarship to help them pursue excellence in sports.

    The portal will allow talented children to stake their claim for support including admission to sports training centres from the comforts of their homes and will simplify procedures. It will be particularly beneficial to the disadvantaged sections of the society.

  • Catch ’em young: Ministry hunts for sports talent

    Catch ’em young: Ministry hunts for sports talent

    NEW DELHI: The Sports Ministry is to set up a Talent Search Portal shortly to give a fair opportunity to talented children from every nook and corner of the country to pursue their dreams of achieving excellence in sports. Jolted by the poor performance of India at the Rio Olympics, the ministry had already begun a process to examine India’s performance.

    The plan is to target talented children of eight years and above.
    Efforts will be made to involve National Sports Federations, corporate houses and other stake-holders in the programme.

    Sports Minister Vijay Goel said in a statement that details of the performance and potential of a child including video and photographs could be uploaded on the portal by children, their parents, relatives, teachers and others on the portal. A format will be available on the portal to capture the key details of the child.

    After due scrutiny, children with potential will be given an opportunity to appear for a battery of tests which could be conducted at the nearest Sports Authority of India Centre and others. Those who pass will be admitted to the training centres of SAI.

    The ministry will also persuade the state governments and others to admit some of such children in their centres. Such talented children who are not able to leave their current places of residence for any reason may be offered a scholarship to help them pursue excellence in sports.

    The portal will allow talented children to stake their claim for support including admission to sports training centres from the comforts of their homes and will simplify procedures. It will be particularly beneficial to the disadvantaged sections of the society.

  • TDSAT directs Star India to reconnect signals to Ortel on receipt of half of due amount

    TDSAT directs Star India to reconnect signals to Ortel on receipt of half of due amount

    NEW DELHI: Star India was directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to reconnect the signals to Ortel Communications within 24 hours as Ortel counsel gave cheques for Rs 3,34,93,967 to Star India counsel Rajsekhar Rao.

    The petition had been filed against disconnection of signals by Star with effect from 2 July 2016 in view of various notices issued under relevant regulations for both DAS and non-DAS areas.

    In his order, member B B Srivastava on 11 July 2016 said Ortel was desirous to have the interconnect agreement renewed but on RIO terms of Star.

    The cheques submitted were for 50% of the outstanding amount till June 2016 (Rs 6,77,71,172). The balance amount of Rs.342,77,205 as well as the installment agreed to be paid by 31 July 2016, will be paid by 25 July 2016 and 31 July 2016 respectively. The petitioner would a lso adhere to the payment schedule as agreed to earlier.

    The petitioner’s desire to have a fresh agreement on RIO basis for DAS areas would be on the basis of RIO and for non-DAS areas, the two sides will negotiate and sign an appropriate interconnect agreement as per TRAI Regulations within two weeks.

    In the meanwhile, the terms and conditions of the old agreement would continue to govern the relationship between the petitioner and the respondent and the petitioner will abide by the payment schedule and other terms of the previous agreement.

    Ortel meanwhile denied any charges of piracy for which FIRs had been lodged.

    Earlier, the petitioner had come before the Tribunal against these notices and when the matter was taken up on 27 May 2016, the petitioner submitted that the parties had arrived at an agreement and therefore, it withdrew the petition.

    The mutual agreement arrived at between the parties had been documented in the form of emails dated 26 May 2016 and a communication to the petitioner on 17 June 2016.

    However, the matter came up again in view of the amount of Rs 6,77,71,172 of which half was paid by chequest which the Bank refused to accept as there was “stop payment” instructions by the petitioner to the bank in view of the disconnection.

    (Updated on 20 July 2016 6:25 pm)

  • TDSAT directs Star India to reconnect signals to Ortel on receipt of half of due amount

    TDSAT directs Star India to reconnect signals to Ortel on receipt of half of due amount

    NEW DELHI: Star India was directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to reconnect the signals to Ortel Communications within 24 hours as Ortel counsel gave cheques for Rs 3,34,93,967 to Star India counsel Rajsekhar Rao.

    The petition had been filed against disconnection of signals by Star with effect from 2 July 2016 in view of various notices issued under relevant regulations for both DAS and non-DAS areas.

    In his order, member B B Srivastava on 11 July 2016 said Ortel was desirous to have the interconnect agreement renewed but on RIO terms of Star.

    The cheques submitted were for 50% of the outstanding amount till June 2016 (Rs 6,77,71,172). The balance amount of Rs.342,77,205 as well as the installment agreed to be paid by 31 July 2016, will be paid by 25 July 2016 and 31 July 2016 respectively. The petitioner would a lso adhere to the payment schedule as agreed to earlier.

    The petitioner’s desire to have a fresh agreement on RIO basis for DAS areas would be on the basis of RIO and for non-DAS areas, the two sides will negotiate and sign an appropriate interconnect agreement as per TRAI Regulations within two weeks.

    In the meanwhile, the terms and conditions of the old agreement would continue to govern the relationship between the petitioner and the respondent and the petitioner will abide by the payment schedule and other terms of the previous agreement.

    Ortel meanwhile denied any charges of piracy for which FIRs had been lodged.

    Earlier, the petitioner had come before the Tribunal against these notices and when the matter was taken up on 27 May 2016, the petitioner submitted that the parties had arrived at an agreement and therefore, it withdrew the petition.

    The mutual agreement arrived at between the parties had been documented in the form of emails dated 26 May 2016 and a communication to the petitioner on 17 June 2016.

    However, the matter came up again in view of the amount of Rs 6,77,71,172 of which half was paid by chequest which the Bank refused to accept as there was “stop payment” instructions by the petitioner to the bank in view of the disconnection.

    (Updated on 20 July 2016 6:25 pm)

  • TDSAT stays disconnection notice against DishTV till next month

    TDSAT stays disconnection notice against DishTV till next month

    NEW DELHI: Times Global Broadcasting Co Ltd has been restrained by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to implement its disconnection order against Dish TV India.

    Listing the matter for 1 August, member B B Srivastava asked Times Global to file its reply within four weeks to the matter which was admitted on 22 June 2016 and also asked Dish TV to file its rejoinder if any within two weeksthereafter.

    The Tribunal said any equitable arrangement about the relationship between the parties would be decided on the basis of the pleadings.

    Dish TV had challenged the disconnection notice for non-payment of alleges dues of approximately Rs 8 crore on two grounds.

    The first was that even after expiry of the agreements, the parties continued with the earlier arrangement under which Times Global owed more money to Dish TV for carriage than the amount it had to receive towards subscription.

    Secondly, it was alleged that the RIO offered by Times Global was discriminatory.

  • TDSAT stays disconnection notice against DishTV till next month

    TDSAT stays disconnection notice against DishTV till next month

    NEW DELHI: Times Global Broadcasting Co Ltd has been restrained by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to implement its disconnection order against Dish TV India.

    Listing the matter for 1 August, member B B Srivastava asked Times Global to file its reply within four weeks to the matter which was admitted on 22 June 2016 and also asked Dish TV to file its rejoinder if any within two weeksthereafter.

    The Tribunal said any equitable arrangement about the relationship between the parties would be decided on the basis of the pleadings.

    Dish TV had challenged the disconnection notice for non-payment of alleges dues of approximately Rs 8 crore on two grounds.

    The first was that even after expiry of the agreements, the parties continued with the earlier arrangement under which Times Global owed more money to Dish TV for carriage than the amount it had to receive towards subscription.

    Secondly, it was alleged that the RIO offered by Times Global was discriminatory.

  • TDSAT directs MSO to pay Rs 2.45 crore as interim payment to Taj TV, sign agreement

    TDSAT directs MSO to pay Rs 2.45 crore as interim payment to Taj TV, sign agreement

    NEW DELHI: Grant lnvestrade Ltd has been directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to make an on-account payment of Rs 2.45 crore in two equal installments to Taj Television and execute an interconnect agreement on RIO terms effective from 21 June 2016.

    Chairman Justice Aftab Alam and member B B Srivastava said the payments in two equal installments will be first within four weeks of 14 June 2016 and the second .within six weeks from the date of the first payment.

    The interim payments and those under the RIO agreement will be without prejudice to the rights and contentions ofthe parties.

    Taj Television told the Tribunal that its dues in terms of the last interconnect agreement comes to Rs 2.15 crores as on30 April 2016. Adding to it the subscript1on up to 20 June 2016 @ of Rs 92 lakhs per month the dues according toMr. Bhatia, would come to Rs four crore.

    (Justice Aftab Alam has since completed his term at Chairperson of the Tribunal.)