Mumbai: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has extended the deadline for adoption of the revised new tariff order (NTO 2.0) for TV channel distributors till June 1, 2022. Earlier the last date for adoption for the new tariff was fixed as April, 2022.
The regulator also directed the Distributors of television channels to ensure that with effect from 1st June 2022 services to the subscribers are provided as per the bouquets or channels opted by the subscribers.
TRAI in an official statement said that the several representations have been received from the stakeholders requesting for extension of time limit for implementation of New Regulatory Framework 2020 as due to present COVID situation, as most of their staff were affected with Covid-19 and many were unable to attend the office due to guidelines issued by the state governments. Besides, their staff /linked local cable operators are finding it difficult to reach the COVID affected subscribers/ areas for collection of choices etc.
TRAI also stated that the Broadcasters must report to the authority in case of any change in name, nature, language, Maximum Retail Price (MRP) per month of channels, composition of bouquets and MRP of bouquets of channels as per the New Regulatory Framework 2020, by 28th February 2022 and simultaneously publish such information on their websites. The Broadcasters who have already submitted their RIOs in compliance of New Regulatory Framework may also revise their RIOs by 28th February 2022.
“All the Distribution Platform Operators (DOs) shall report to the Authority, Distributor Retail Price (DRP) of pay channels, composition of bouquet of pay channels /free-to-air channels and DRP of bouquets of pay channels, as per the New Regulatory Framework 2020 by 31st March 2022, and simultaneously publish such information on their websites. The DOs who have already submitted their RIOs in compliance of New Regulatory Framework may also revise their RIOs by 31s March 2022,” the statement read.
