Over the top demand

Mandating that OTT services carry all DD channels defies logic

Public TV broadcaster Doordarshan has been a unique recipient of the free-rider benefits from private broadcasters for over a decade. Since the advent of cable and direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting, private broadcasters were made to mandatorily include all free-to-air DD channels on their networks. From 2007, private TV channels that pay crores of rupees for broadcasting rights of signature sports tournaments were asked to compulsorily transmit those events on DD channels as well via an Act of Parliament. Now, Prasar Bharati, DD’s holding organisation, has suggested that over the top, or OTT, channels should compulsorily carry all DD channels. Prasar Bharati’s