New Delhi: Despite giving 34 days time to select their new package and complete their switch over to new tariff regime by January 31, TRAI’s website on Friday reminded cable and DTH companies that they must adhere ‘strictly’ by the time table give on July 3, in which TRAI had given them 180 days to put up new channel packs and plans.
The Regulator has directed all cable and DTH players, including Dish TV, D2h, Tata Sky, Hathway, Den Networks, Airtel Digital and Sun Direct, have been directed to reveal their new TV channel packs and prices by end of day today.
“The Authority once again emphasize that all the provisions of the Interconnection Regulations 2017, the QoS Regulations 2017 and the Tariff Order 2017 are in force and the regulatory provisions contained therein may be strictly complied with while implementing the prescribed schedule of activities,” it said on Friday.
“Accordingly, distribution platform operators (cable & DTH companies) shall declare the Distributor Retail Price (DRP) and Network Capacity Fee (NCF) as per the time lines given in TRAI press release dated 3rd July 2018 i.e. by 29th December 2018.”
The latest clarification comes in the wake of reluctance shown by some big DTH players to implement the new tariff scheme.Under TRAI’s migration scheme announced in July this year, channel owners were supposed to publish their channel packs and prices by October.
Using this information, Cable and DTH companies were supposed to publish their channel packs soon after and consumers were supposed to migrate to the new packs. The whole process was supposed to be over by today, December 29.
However, the time table has been thrown into disarray as Cable and DTH firms have waited for the last day to reveal their plans. Because of this, subscribers have not been able to make the switch before the deadline.
The packs and prices of Airtel Digital are available on the company’s self-care app. However, the Airtel Digital website continues to show the old plans. The website is expected to be updated with the new plans today. Websites of other operators, including Dish TV, D2h, Hathway, Sun Direct and Tata Sky continue to show the old prices.
Except for few, none of the big DTH companies have listed the new plans on their website, With only hours to go before the deadline.
Those cable and DTH operators who do not reveal their new plans by end of day today could face fines and penalties From the TRAI.
