ITV

Tag: Trai

  • TRAI recommends changes in BARC India to improve credibility, transparency of TV ratings

    TRAI recommends changes in BARC India to improve credibility, transparency of TV ratings

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has come out with its recommendation on television measurement and rating systems review. The regulatory body has advised structural reform in the existing body Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India. It has stated that the changes are required to mitigate potential risk of conflict and increase credibility and transparency. 

    Changes in structural body; active participation of advertisers, advertising agency:

    The industry watchdog has also advised changes in the composition of the board of BARC India. The board should have at least 50 per cent independent members including measurement technology experts. Equal representation of AAAI, IBF, and ISA has also been recommended. 

    TRAI is of the opinion that active participation of representatives of the advertisers and the advertising agency will bring more accuracy, transparency, credibility, and neutrality in the system, due to their inherent need for advertisers to reach viewers accurately.

    Formation of oversight committee

    Moreover, an oversight committee has been recommended to create to guide the measurement body in the areas of research, design, and analysis. The need of multiple data collection agencies has also been mentioned for credible and accurate collection of data. 

    The Oversight Committee shall be broad-based with representation from the National Council of Applied Economic Research, IIM, IIT, media research expert and demography expert, nominee from the ministry of information & broadcasting, and TRAI. The Committee should also be responsible for nomination/appointment of independent members of the Board as well as to give policy direction to BARC India, if it is so required.

    Encouraging multiple data collection agencies

    TRAI says multiple data collection agencies need to be encouraged to create credible and accurate collection of data. Competition and multiple agencies for data collection and processing would bring in new technologies, new research methodologies, new methods in analysis, new and better ways to ensure better data quality.

    “Once multiple agencies come forward for rating, BARC should limit its role to publishing the ratings, and framing methodology and audit mechanism for the rating agencies, so that the number of agencies can develop multiple rating systems leveraging new technologies,” TRAI stated.

    Change in role of DPOs

    Notably, the regulatory body also stated that MIB should amend the DTH license and MSO registration so as to mandate STBs capable of transferring viewership data and adoption of RPD technology. This transfer of data can be done by establishing a return path/connection from STB to the remote servers of the Audience Measurement agency. 

    Anonymized viewership data should be transferred electronically to the Audience Measurement agency for statistical analysis and television rating purposes. No data from any STB should be transferred to the rating agency without explicit consent from the subscribers. 

    DPOs should be allowed to mutually negotiate the terms and conditions for sharing the data with the Measurement Rating agency within the overall framework prescribed by TRAI from time to time. Such a framework shall be prescribed by TRAI, once these recommendations are accepted by MIB. 

    More transparency, less intervention

    BARC has also been advised to stay at an arm’s length from its own subsidiary, Meterology Data Pvt Ltd., which is the sole data collecting agency for BARC, as of now, so that the entire process of measurement is carried out independently to ensure inherent checks in data inconsistency.

    “Efforts may be made to withhold the identity of the channel’s name, and number, while collecting and processing the data from the field to bring more transparency in the complete process. BARC should also separate its functions in two units (a) one unit should be responsible for prescribing methodology of ratings/validation of data, publishing the data and audit mechanism and (b) the other unit for processing the data, watermarking or any other such technical work including management of data collection agencies,” TRAI added.

    It has advised BARC to review/frame its outlier policy based on scientific study and market survey conducted from time to time along with automate data processing in such a manner that no manual intervention is required before the final TRP rating is released. TRAI suggests any type of manual intervention in the meter-level /raw data arising out of the household panel must be avoided. Manual intervention, if any, in abnormal circumstances should be reported and informed to the auditors also.

  • TRAI issues consultation paper on technical specs for CAS, SMS compliance

    TRAI issues consultation paper on technical specs for CAS, SMS compliance

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a consultation paper seeking comments on standardising CAS and SMS systems for broadcast and cable TV.  

    Pursuant to the full digitisation of the cable sector in India, which concluded by 31 June 2017, the focus should now be on CAS and SMS as TRAI says they “form the core systems to deliver the broadcasting services to consumers as per their individual choices, by enabling encryption to ensure content security.”

    The technical requirements for CAS and SMS are generic and allow for different type of CAS and SMS systems to exist in the ecosystem. “While some of the CASs deployed are using advance embedded security, others are based on non-standard solutions making it vulnerable to hacking, thereby putting content security at risk,” says the TRAI notification.

    Additionally, most CAS companies don’t have their own SMS, middleware and user interface, increasing the dependency on third-party solutions. DPOs also lack the technical expertise to have an in-house mechanism.

    “The authority received complaints from various broadcasters on a regular basis regarding the piracy and distribution of pirated signals. As per analysis much of such piracy occurs due to deployment of CAS/ SMS that do not fully comply with security protocols as per extant standards. Stakeholders raised this issue as one of the major concerns during the annual chief executive officers' interaction with the authority held on 14 January 2020,” says TRAI.

    With these issues in mind, TRAI felt that “these concerns reflect a need for compliance with minimum technical specifications before a CAS/SMS systems is installed in the network. With this background, TRAI brings out this consultation paper on suo-moto basis. The paper endeavours to deliberate upon the issues arising out of deployment of sub-standard CAS and SMS systems, underlying ill-effects and possible remedial measures.”

    Comments to the consultation paper are requested by 20 May 2020 and counter-comments by 3 June 2020.

  • TRAI recommends mandatory STB interoperability

    TRAI recommends mandatory STB interoperability

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today released recommendations on interoperability of set top boxes (STB) for digital TV broadcasting services. STBs must be made interoperable within each segment of cable TV and DTH respectively.

    TRAI says that currently, STBs are non-interoperable and that deprives the customer of the freedom to change his service provider and creates a hindrance to technological innovation, improvement in service quality, and the overall sector growth.

    “The issue has its own challenges with disparate interest groups among distribution platform owners, CAS vendors, STB manufacturers and other stakeholders. Since the broadcasting sector is content-centric, security of content and robust anti-piracy features are necessary. Affordability of STB remains an important criterion and any suggested solution should not cause undue increase in price of STB. Ensuring proper content security, strong anti-piracy features and flexibility while keeping the STB costs reasonable are the main challenges for achieving STB interoperability,” says the release.

    DTH STBs comply with the license conditions to support common interface (CI) module-based interoperability. However, in practice, even in the DTH segment, the STBs are not readily interoperable.

    TRAI recommends the following:

    * All set top boxes in India must support technical interoperability in principle, i.e., every STB provided to a consumer must be interoperable.

    * Ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) may include a suitable clause/condition in the permission/registration/cable TV network rule mandating all the DPOs (DTH as well as MSOs) to compulsorily facilitate service provisioning through the interoperable STBs either provided by DPOs or procured by the consumers from open market.

    * There are technical and commercial constraints to universal STB. Therefore, interoperability of STBs, with effect from the date as prescribed vide the extant clause/ condition, shall be ensured within the DTH or cable segment. That is, the interoperability shall be applicable within the DTH segment and within the cable segment, respectively.

    * The MIB may notify through licensing conditions or amendment in the Cable Television  Network  Rules   1994  as  per  the  Cable  Television  Network (Regulation)  Act, 1995  or  through  any other appropriate  mechanism mandatory use of DVB CI+ 2.0 standards (with USB CAM) as per the ETSITS 103 605 standards both for DTI I STI3s and STFBs being used by MSOs from a prospective date.

    * A time of six month may be given to both DTH operators and MSOs to adopt DVB CI Plus 2.0 standards (with USB CAM) as per the ETSI TS 103 605 standards from the date of MIB notifications. MIB may also coordinate with BIS so that suitable amendments are brought within this time frame.

    * The authority recommends mandatory provisioning of USB port-based common interface for all  digital television sets in  India. MIB in coordination with TRAI and ministry of electronics and information technology may request BIS to amend the specifications for digital television sets to include provisioning of USB- based common interface port as per DVB CI Plus 2.0 standard based on ETSI TS 103 605 standards. Such specifications must mandate TV manufactures to:

    ·         Provide all digital television sets with minimum one open interface port based on DVB CI Plus 2.0 standards permitting simple connection of USB CAM to allow reception of television signals.

    ·         Provide digital television sets with built-in tuners to enable reception of television content through both satellite and cable platforms.

    Setting Up of Coordination and Implementation Committee

    A coordination committee may be set up by the MIB having members from the ministry of electronics and information technology, TRAI, BIS and representatives of TV manufacturers. The committee may steer implementation of revised STB standards for both the DTH and the cable TV segment.

    Further, the committee may maintain continuous oversight for setting up of the digital television standards by BIS to provide for DVB CI Plus 2.0 port based on ETSI TS 103 605 standards and to have provision for reception of both DTH and cable television signals. The coordination committee may steer the adaptation of the revised STB and digital television standards in a time-bound manner.

  • ‘Ramayan’, movies drive out pay Hindi GECs, news from across genres list

    ‘Ramayan’, movies drive out pay Hindi GECs, news from across genres list

    BENGALURU: Weeks 12 of 2020 (Saturday, 21 March 2020 to Friday 27 March 2020) and 13 of 2020 (Saturday, 28 March 2020 to Friday, 3 April 2020) witnessed big changes in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly lists of Top 10 Channels Across Genres on All Platforms. Week 12, the first week of the All India 21-day lockdown due to the dreaded covidvirus-19 had seen the entry of a Hindi News channel, the free to air (FTA) AajTak from the India Today group at rank 7. Only three GEC channels, two of which were FTA –Dangal (at rank 1), Big Magic (at rank 8) and Pay channel Sony Sab (at rank 3), were present in BARCs’ across genres on all platforms list in week 12 of 2020. Three Movies channels were also present in the list in week 12 along with two Telugu and one channel each of Tamil and Hindi News genres. Combined viewership of the Top 10 channels across genres in week 12 of 2020 was 8 percent higher than the combined viewership in week 11. From the Network’s perspective there were two channels each from Sony Pictures Network India (SPN), Star India and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) and one channel each from Enterr10 Television, Sun TV, TV Today group and Viacom18. 

    Week 13 of 2020 saw combined viewership of Top 10 channels across genres on all Platform climb even further- week 13 of 2020 saw week on week combined weekly impressions grow 18.3 percent as compared to the previous week. Eight of the channels in the weekly list for week 13 were the same as in week 12, but with higher ratings and a shuffling of ranks. Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa and AajTak exited the list in week 13 to make way for DD National (at rank 1) and Viacom18’s Kids channel Nick (at rank 9). BARC attributes DD National’s growth of viewership to re-runs of programmes such as Ramayan, Shaktiman and Buniyaad amongst others.

    Four Hindi GECs, three channels from the Hindi Movies genre and one channel each from the Kids, Tamil and Telugu genres made up BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Channels Across Genres on All Platforms. Please refer to the figure below:

    Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres

    BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres in week 12 of 2020 had seen the exit of five big GECs’, four of which were Hindi GEC’s and one was a Kannada GEC. All the channels were flagship channels. The Hindi GECs’ were Viacom18’s Colors, SPN’s Sony Entertainment Television, Star India’s Star Plus and Zeel’s Zee TV and the Kannada GEC was Zeel’s Zee Kannada. Three of the channels that replaced these GECs’ were Hindi Movies channels and two were Telugu GEC channels. BARC revealed during a teleconference that many GECs’ have included classic soaps& dramas and movies as big part of their programming, more so in South India. Four Telugu channels, three Hindi Movies channels and one channel each from the Hindi GEC, Kids and Tamil genres made up BARC weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across genres in week 12 of 2020. There were two channels each from SPN, Star India, Sun Tv Network, Viacom18 and Zeel. 

    Week 13 of 2020 saw two channels exit BARCs’ weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres-the Sun Tv Network’s Telugu GEC Gemini and Zeel’s Zee Telugu. The new entrants were pubcasterDoordarshan’s (DD) flagship channel DD National and the Sun Tv Network’s Tamil Movies channel KTV. Hence there were three channels from the Hindi Movies genre, two channels each from Hindi GECs’, Tamil and Telugu and one channel from the Kids genre. From the network’s perspective, there were two channels each from SPN, Star India, Sun Tv Nework, Viacom18 and one channel each from DD and Zeel.

    Please refer to figure below.

    Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres

    BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres in week 12 of 2020 saw the exit of one Hindi Movies channel -ABZY Movies, to be replaced by Hindi News channel AajTak. The other nine channels in week 12 were same as in the previous week, with some shuffling in ranks.  There were three channels each from the Bhojpuri and Hindi Movies genres, two channels from the Hindi GEC genre and one channel each from the Hindi News and Youth genres. There were four channels from Zeel, three channels from Enterr10 Television, two channels from B4U Network and one channel from the India Today group.

    Nine of the channels in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres in week 13 of 2020 were the same as in week 12. The channel that exited the list was Zeel’s Bhojpuri channel Big Ganga, which was replaced by DD’s DD National. The nine channels from the previous week had some reshuffling of ranks. There were three channels each from the Hindi GEC and Hindi Movies genres, two channels from the Bhojpuri genre and one channel each from the Hindi News and the Youth genres. There were three channels each from Enterr10 Television and Zeel, two channels from B4U and one channel each from DD and the India Today group.

    Please refer to the figure below:

  • Sony Sab continues as most watched pay TV Hindi GEC across genres

    Sony Sab continues as most watched pay TV Hindi GEC across genres

    BENGALURU: Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) Sony Sab continued as the most watched pay TV Hindi GEC in week 11 of 2019 (Saturday, 14 March 2020 to Friday, 20 March 2020, week or period under review). The channel had replaced Viacom18’s flagship Hindi GEC Colors which until recently had been the most watched Hindi GEC for a few weeks in 2020.

    Most watched pay channels across genres in week 11 of 2020

    Five Hindi GECs and one channel each from the Hindi Movies, Kannada, Kids, Telugu and Tamil genres comprised BARC’s weekly list of the Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres for week 11 of 2020. There were three channels from Sony Pictures Network India (SPN), two channels each from Star India, Viacom18 and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) and one channel from the Sun Tv Network. Eight of the channels were GECs’, while there was one each from the Kids and Hindi Movies genres during the week under review.

    The list of top 10 pay channels across genres for week 11 of 2020 was the same up to rank 4 as compared to the previous week. Star India’s flagship Tamil GEC Star Vijay exited the list in week 11 of 2020 and was replaced by Viacom18’s kids channel Nick.Colors climbed up a place to fifth rank, while Zeel’s flagship Hindi GEC dropped a place to sixth rank in week 11 of 2020 from fifth rank in the previous week. SPN’s Hindi Movies retained its 10 rank in the list in week 11 of 2020. SPN’s flagship GEC Sony Entertainment Television also dropped a place to eighth rank in week 11 of 2020 as compared to seventh rank in the previous week.

    Refer to the figure below for ratings of the Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres for weeks 10 and 11.

    Most watched free channels across genres in week 11 of 2020

    Enterr 10 Television’s Hindi GEC Dangal led BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres in week 11 of 2020, as it had in the previous weeks. Dangal has generally been the most watched channel across genres ever since BARC recommenced publication of data in week 13 of 2019 after the implementation of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India or TRAI’s New Tariff Order or NTO.

    During the period under review, four channels from the Hindi Movies and three channels from the Bhojpuri from Hindi GEC,two channels from the Bhojpuri and one channel from the Hindi Music genre comprised BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels in week 11 of 2020.  Four of the channels were from Zeel and there were three channels from Enterr 10 Television, two channels from B4U and one channel from the SkyStar Network.

    Nine of the channels in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels in week 10 of 2020 were the same as in the previous week with changes in ranks. B4U’s Bhojpuri channel B4UBhojpuri exited the list in week 11 of 2020, while SkyStar’s Hindi Movies channel ABZY Movies reentered the list.

    Please refer to the figure below for ratings of the Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres for weeks 10 and 11

    Most watched channels on all platforms across genresin week 11 of 2020

    Dangal continued its domination of BARC’s weekly lists of Top 10 Channels on All Platforms Across Genres in week 11 of 2020 at rank 1 as it has in the recent past. The first five channels in BARC’s across genres on all platforms weekly list during week 11 were the same in rank and file as in week 10 of 2020. One channel reentered the list -Nick, while Star India’s Telugu GEC Star Vijay exited it.

    Nine of the 10 channels in BARC’s weekly lists of Top 10 Channels on All Platforms Across Genres in week 10 of 2020 were GECs’. Seven of the channels were Hindi GECs’, while there was one channel each from the Kids,Tamil and Telugu genres in the list. From the networks’ perspective, there were three channels from SPN, two channels each from Star India, Viacom 18 and Zeel and one channel from the Sun Tv Network.

    Refer to the figure below for ratings of the Top 10 Channels on All Platforms Across Genres for weeks 10 and 11


     

  • Southern channels continue Pay-TV viewership dominance across genres

    Southern channels continue Pay-TV viewership dominance across genres

    BENGALURU: In the recent past, channels in two South Indian languages, Tamil and Telugu, have been the most watched pay-TV channels across genres, according to Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly data. There have been exceptions to this. The weeks when the annual cricketing bonanza Indian Premier League had been played had sports channels dominating viewership of pay-TV channels. Further, though Viacom18’s flagship Hindi GEC Colors became the second most watched pay-TV channel in the country in the start of 2020, the Sun TV Network’s Tamil GEC Sun TV led pay-TV viewership at rank one.

    Media reports from around the world stated that the World Health Organisation or WHO had declared the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic on 11 March 2020. BARC data for week 10 of 2019 (Saturday, 7 March 2020 to Friday, 13 March 2020, week or period under review) of the top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres shows that Sun TV and Star India’s Star Maa were the first and the second most watched channels across genres. The duo had led pay-TV across genres weekly ratings for pervious week also.

    Most watched pay channels across genres in week 10 of 2020

    Five Hindi GECs, two Tamil and one channel each from the Hindi Movies, Kannada and Telugu genres comprised BARC’s weekly list of the Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres for week 10 of 2020. There were three channels each from Sony Pictures Network India (SPN), Star India and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) and one channel from the Sun TV Network. Nine of the channels were GECs, while one was from the Hindi movies genre during the week under review.

    The list of top 10 pay channels across genres during the period was the same up to rank 7 as compared to the previous week. Star India’s flagship Tamil GEC Star Vijay climbed up to eighth place in week 10 of 2020 from tenth place in week 9. ZEEL’s flagship Kannada GEC dropped a place to ninth rank in week 10 of 2020 from eighth rank in the previous week. SPN’s Hindi Movies reentered the top 10 pay channels across genres list in week 10 of 2020, while the Sun Tv Network’s flagship Telugu GEC Gemini TV exited the list.

    Please refer to the figure below for ratings of the Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres for weeks 9 and 10.

    Most watched free channels across genres in week 10 of 2020

    Enterr 10 Television’s Hindi GEC Dangal led BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres in week 10 of 2020, as it had in the previous weeks. Dangal has been the most watched channel across genres ever since BARC recommenced publication of data in week 13 of 2019 after the implementation of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India or TRAI’s New Tariff Order or NTO.

    During the period under review, three channels each from the Bhojpuri, Hindi GEC and Hindi Movies genres and one channel from the Hindi Music genre comprised BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels in week 10 of 2020.  Four of the channels were from Zeel and there were three channels each from B4U and Enterr 10 Television.

    Nine of the channels in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels in week 10 of 2020 were the same as in the previous week with changes in ranks. Enterr 10 Television’s Marathi GEC Fakt Marathi exited the list in week 10 of 2020, while B4U’s Bhojpuri Movies channel B4U Bhojpuri reentered the list.

    Please refer to the figure below for ratings of the Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres for weeks 9 and 10

    Most watched channels on all platforms across genres in week 10 of 2020

    Dangal continued its domination of BARC’s weekly lists of Top 10 Channels on All Platforms Across Genres in week 10 of 2020 at rank 1 as it has in the recent past. The first eight channels in BARC’s across genres on all platforms weekly list during week 10 were the same as in week 9 of 2020 with a some shuffling of ranks. Two channels reentered the list -Zeel’s Hindi GEC Big Magic and Star Vijay, while two channels – Zeel’s Zee Kannada and Sun Tv Network’s Gemini TV exited it.

    All the 10 channels in BARC’s weekly lists of Top 10 Channels on All Platforms Across Genres in week 10 of 2020 were GECs’. Seven of the channels were Hindi GECs’, while there were two Tamil and one Telugu channel in the list. From the networks’ perspective, there were three channels from Star India, two channels each from SPN and Zeel and one channel each from Enterr 10 Television, Sun Tv Network and Viacom18.

    Please refer to the figure below for ratings of the Top 10 Channels on All Platforms Across Genres for weeks 9 and 10

  • Sun TV’s petition against NTO 2.0 adjourned for three weeks

    Sun TV’s petition against NTO 2.0 adjourned for three weeks

    MUMBAI: While Sun TV Network had challenged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) recent amendments to the New Tariff Order (NTO 2.0) in the Madras High Court in January , the ongoing matter has been adjourned by three weeks.

    The matter has been adjourned automatically by the Chief Justice as only urgent matters will be taken up under the current circumstances.

    “There was absolutely no material available either scientifically or legally assessed that could support the introduction of the tariff,” the petition said. The broadcaster also said that the regulatory body had amended NTO without consulting the broadcasters.

    The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) also filed a writ petition against the regulatory body seeking a stay on the implementation of the recent amendments to the New Tariff Order in the Bombay High Court. However, the verdict is still awaited.

     

  • AIDCF informs TRAI it will provide detailed submission for NTO 2.0 soon

    AIDCF informs TRAI it will provide detailed submission for NTO 2.0 soon

    MUMBAI: The All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) has submitted a letter to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), as per the judgement of the Kerala High Court, stating that it is collating information from member companies to make a detailed submission on the amended new tariff order (NTO 2.0), requesting TRAI not to take any further action.

    AIDCF secretary general Manoj Chhangani said it has informed TRAI that the federation would be sending the detailed representation in the next two weeks.

    The federation filed a writ petition in the Kerala High Court against certain provisions of NTO 2.0 regarding logical channel number, network capacity fee (NCF), multi-TV home connection.  The high court has stayed the clause relating to placing of channels on Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) in NTO  2.0. In the amended order, the authority had mandated that the channel of a language in a genre will be kept together while placing channels on EPG. Such EPG layout is to be mandatorily reported to the TRAI and no change in this can be done without prior approval of the authority.

    “In the above view of the matter, the amended provision in Regulation 18(4) of the Principal Regulation 2017 shall stand stayed. With regard to the other impugned provisions, the petitioners are permitted to file a detailed representation before the TRAI pointing out the objections to the  amendments producing all relevant data which will be duly considered by the TRAI and appropriate remedial steps shall be taken after due consultation with all stakeholders as required by law. Till such time, the provisions  except  the  provision  with  regard  to  freezing of the placement of channels in perpetuity  shall  be permitted  to  be operated,” the judgement said.

    Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) requested TRAI yesterday to defer the implementation of the amended tariff order (NTO 2.0) in view of the crisis created by Coronavirus. MCOF president Arvind Prabhu said that they are awaiting response from the regulatory body.

  • Corona : MCOF requests TRAI to defer NTO 2.0 implementation

    Corona : MCOF requests TRAI to defer NTO 2.0 implementation

    The Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) has requested the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to defer the implementation of the amended tariff order (NTO 2.0) in view of the crisis created by Coronavirus. MCOF president Arvind Prabhu said that they are awaiting response from the regulatory body. The Association of Film and Video Editors has also decided to stop the shooting of TV serials, web series, etc. from 19 till 31 March 2020.

    The federation has written in a letter today to the authority that in the normal course of business, LCO business entails many visits to Customer premises for Collections of Post-paid Subscription and on- site Service Support. It added that NTO2.0 will necessitate more frequent interaction with Subscribers firstly to refit them into New Basic Plan options and secondly to enable them to make the right choices of Pay Channels and Packages.

    It has also been said that the field executives will be exposed to many subscribers and vice versa and thus has a higher probability of turning into a Passive Carrier, if not a patient himself, which is ill- advised in the days of Corona Virus spread. At the present scenario, almost everyone is resorting to Social distancing to contain the spread.

    It has also added that the problem is compounded in large cities where the cable executive often travels and aboard Public Transport to reach his office . It mentioned that while the future situation is not predictable , the psychological need for minimal interaction would be hard to overcome.

    “We therefore request you to kindly defer the implementation of NTO 2.0 until things settle. The interim period would also be useful for more interactions with and by the Industry and whole-hearted participation by each Value chain Member,” the letter stated.

    “We also request that the deferment be made applicable to DTH and IPTV Operators too so as to ensure Status quo across the Sector.  This is without prejudice to the rights of stakeholders who have legally challenged the Tariff regulations and the outcomes are subjudice at this stage,” it added.

  • Tata Sky seeks to amend its writ petition against TRAI in the tariff order case

    Tata Sky seeks to amend its writ petition against TRAI in the tariff order case

    MUMBAI: The direct-to-home (DTH) platform Tata Sky has sought to amend the writ petition which was filed earlier before the Delhi High Court against the new tariff order introduced by The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Alongside the ongoing case, Tata Sky seeks to amend the present petition by adding a challenge to the new amendments which was brought by the regulatory body at the beginning of 2020.

    Tata Sky has mentioned that following amendments are “arbitrary, irrational, unreasonable, without jurisdiction and seek to be expropriatory”.

    The petitioner has submitted that the reduction of Network Capacity Fee (NCF) is irrational and unreasonable as it does not ensure reasonable profit to the DTH platform. According to the petitioner, the TRAI has not carried out any tariff determining exercise before making the amendment regarding NCF.

    TRAI has also reduced the chargeability of the NCF in respect of every additional television to only 40 per cent of the original NCF, in a "multi-tv household".  It has also asked to reduce the carriage fee chargeable by a DPO against a new television channel from 20 paisa for Standard Definition (SO) per channel per month for a penetration upto 5 per cent, to a cap of maximum Rs 4 lakh for SD Channels. Such caps are also prescribed for HD Channels.

    “Through the capping of the Price of a Pay-Channel which could be put into a bouquet, the Distribution Fees available to the DPO has also been unreasonably and irrationally reduced,” the petitioner submitted.  It also added that the amendment would reduce  the  capability  of  a  DPO  to  form  bouquets  of channels which are priced above Rs 12 by the broadcaster. Moreover, a compulsory free carriage of Doordarshan channels has also been mentioned as unreasonable.

    “The Petitioner submits that the Impugned Amendments 2020 reduce the revenue generated by the Petitioner No.1 in such manner that even the basic right of the Petitioner to recover the basic cost of its network has been negated. The Petitioner submits that during the course of the present petition before this Hon'ble Court, the Respondent has failed to prove, establish or even display the advantages of the 2017 Regime,” it says.  

    Hence, Tata sky has sought to make additional grounds which may be allowed to be included in the main writ petition. According to the company, the impugned amendments 2020 do not take into account relevant matters and takes into account irrelevant issues like foreign consumers to subscribe television channels on the ala-carte basis by making bouquet of channels expensive. The DTH network is thus being made available to the consumer in such manner that it would not be able to even recover its operational or capital costs.