New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has rolled out a stricter audit regime for television channel distributors, strengthening compliance requirements across cable, DTH and digital TV platforms. The revised rules introduce clear timelines, tighter oversight and a shift in how annual audits are conducted.
The new framework has been notified through the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Seventh Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on February 5. The amended regulations will take effect from April 1, 2026.
One of the most significant changes is the move from calendar-year audits to a financial-year–based system. Under the revised norms, all addressable TV channel distributors—including cable operators, direct-to-home (DTH) providers, HITS operators and IPTV platforms—will be required to undergo a mandatory annual audit covering operations of the immediately preceding financial year.
To ensure consistency and regulatory oversight, TRAI has restricted the conduct of audits to auditors empanelled with the regulator or to state-owned Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL). The audit report, along with all supporting annexures, must be submitted to broadcasters by September 30 every year.
The regulations also introduce procedural safeguards for broadcasters. Distributors are now required to inform broadcasters at least 30 days in advance of the audit schedule and disclose details of the appointed auditor. Broadcasters may nominate one representative to attend the audit process, although the role is strictly limited to observation and providing clarifications, with no authority to influence audit outcomes.
At the same time, the regulator has provided relief to smaller operators. Distributors with an active subscriber base of up to 30,000 subscribers have been exempted from mandatory audits, making compliance optional for this segment.
However, TRAI has clarified that this exemption will not apply in cases involving shared infrastructure or joint venture arrangements. In such scenarios, subscriber numbers across all participating entities will be aggregated to determine eligibility for audit exemption.
The revised audit framework is aimed at improving transparency, standardising compliance practices and strengthening trust between broadcasters and distribution platform operators in India’s evolving television ecosystem.
