TRAI Notifies Tariff Amendment Orders Relating to Commercial Subscribers

TRAI has today notified two Tariff Amendment Orders (TAO) relating to TV services for commercial subscribers, one applicable for TV services being provided through analog cable TV systems (Non-CAS areas) and the other one applicable for TV services being provided through Digital Addressable cable TV systems (DAS).

The salient features of these TAOs are as under:

'Subscriber', Ordinary subscriber', & 'Commercial subscriber' have been defined.

Total forbearance has been prescribed both at the wholesale & retail level with respect to tariffs for Commercial subscribers and the broadcasters have the option to enter into tripartite agreements with the Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) and the commercial subscribers, if so desired.

Broadcasters have been mandated to offer their channels/bouquet of channels for commercial subscribers, on non-discriminatory terms and conditions.

The Broadcasters have been mandated to file their tripartite agreements, if such agreement is done with commercial subscribers, with the Authority within 30days of entering into such agreement.

TV Signal to commercial subscribers have to be provided by DPOs only in accordance with Policy Guidelines for Up-linking/Down-linking of Television Channels

These Tariff Amendment Orders have been notified in accordance with the Hon'ble TDSAT's Order dated 9th March, 2015in the matter of Indian Broadcasting Foundation& Ors Vs TRAI (Appeal No 7(C)/2014) . It is expected that with the coming into force of these changes in the regulatory framework for commercial subscribers, distribution of TV services to commercial subscribers would be streamlined and would be available to them at competitive rates. It is also envisaged that it would balance the interests of all the stakeholders in the value chain and bring in complete transparency in the business transactions.

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