New Delhi: In a development that could shape the regulatory contours of India’s evolving media ecosystem, the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has issued a notice to Prasar Bharati following a petition by the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF). The case centres on the public broadcaster’s plan to onboard linear television channels onto its OTT platform, WAVES.
At the heart of the dispute lies a larger industry concern—how to regulate the fast-blurring lines between traditional broadcasting and digital streaming. As convergence accelerates, the matter is being closely tracked by broadcasters, distribution platforms, and digital players alike, given its potential implications for regulatory parity.
AIDCF has challenged Prasar Bharati’s Notice Inviting Applications (NIA), which seeks to bring satellite TV channels onto the WAVES platform. The federation argues that this move sidesteps the existing broadcasting and distribution framework, particularly provisions under the Uplinking and Downlinking Guidelines, 2022.
Specifically, the petition points to Clause 11(3)(f), which mandates that broadcasters can provide signal reception decoders only to authorised distribution platform operators such as multi-system operators (MSOs), DTH providers, HITS operators, and IPTV platforms. According to AIDCF, OTT platforms do not fall within these recognised categories, making such an arrangement legally untenable.
The federation has further warned that participation in WAVES could expose broadcasters to regulatory risks, including potential violations of their downlinking permissions. It maintains that providing signal decoders to an OTT platform may be interpreted as a breach of licensing conditions.
Beyond legal interpretation, AIDCF has flagged concerns around regulatory imbalance. While traditional distribution platforms operate within a tightly governed licensing regime, OTT platforms remain largely outside comparable oversight. This, the body argues, creates an uneven playing field and allows digital platforms to expand into areas historically subject to stricter controls.
Prasar Bharati, on its part, has positioned WAVES as a forward-looking digital initiative aimed at expanding the reach and accessibility of television content. The broadcaster had earlier issued the NIA and later extended the application deadline, signalling continued momentum behind the platform’s rollout.
However, AIDCF contends that the initiative blurs the distinction between regulated broadcast distribution and largely unregulated digital streaming. It has urged TDSAT to quash the NIA and restrain Prasar Bharati from proceeding with the onboarding process.
TDSAT has now directed Prasar Bharati to file its response ahead of the next hearing, scheduled for April 29. Advocate Vibhas Srivastava is representing AIDCF in the matter.
The outcome of the case is expected to go beyond the immediate dispute, potentially influencing how hybrid content distribution models are treated under Indian law. As the industry navigates the intersection of linear television and OTT platforms, the ruling could set an important precedent for future regulatory alignment.
