TDSAT postpones hearing on ad-cap concerns of entertainment channels to No 11

Court also did not allow broadcasters, Zee TV and Viacom 18 to become respondents in case

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) on Thursday postponed' the hearing of a petition by entertainment channels, 9XM and Sun TV challenging an order by the Telecom regulatory Authority of India to put mandatory cap on advertisements.

The matter will now be heard on 11th November. The court also did not allow broadcasters, Zee TV and Viacom 18 to become respondents in the case.

Broadcasters have been knocking on the doors of TDSAT ever since Trai implemented a rule from October 1 to cap advertisements per hour to 12 minutes after the country embarked on a massive digitization program.

The News Broadcasters Association has also contested the Trai order and the TDSAT is expected to give its verdict on news broadcasters on 11th November. Broadcasters have complained that a slowing economy and lower advertisement and subscription rates have made business difficult and that the mandatory ad cap be pushed back by a year.

The I&B ministry had also voiced its support to broadcasters and asked Trai to reconsider the implementation until next year.