Protect TV's diversity

Trai should minimise intervention in channel pricing

A new consultation paper from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on the subject of cable television channel pricing has set alarm bells ringing in the sector. The paper views the increasing number of channel bundles on offer as a problem; such bundles usually come with discounting of channel prices, which permits cross-subsidisation. However, it also means that the choice before consumers can become confusing, even if they are saving money on their bills overall. The paper proposed additional regulations on pricing, including a cap on the amount that bouquets could discount their prices, and a possible change to