New Delhi : Broadcasting sector regulator TRAI has come out with a draft tariff order for non-addressable cable or analog TV systems and sought views from the public and the industry.
In the draft tariff order, TRAI has prescribed that broadcasters should mandatorily offer all their channels on a-la-carte basis though they are also free to offer bouquets.
It has also favoured the continuation of the existing mechanism to regulate wholesale tariff, in the draft order.
Revenue share between the operators should be decided based on mutual negotiations and operators are to provide consumers bills and receipts for payments for the subscribed cable TV services, as per the draft order.
In a statement released here, TRAI said the tariff order has been released in pursuance of Supreme Court order dated September 17, 2014.
TRAI has asked stakeholders to submit their written views or comments on the draft order by December 14, 2014.
TRAI move comes in wake of the apex court order dated 19th September, asking TRAI to come up with a fresh tariff order by 31st December, after hearing an intervention petition filed by the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) seeking a cap on carriage and placement fee paid by the broadcasters to MSO.
The court also asked broadcasters to submit their comments on a report filed by TRAI in 2010. The court also directed TRAI to study the feasibility of putting a cap on carriage and placement fee following an application filed by the NBA.
TRAI also proposes to facilitate and incentivise the cable TV operators who are implementing digital addressable system (DAS) before the cut-off dates notified by the government.
For those cable TV networks which are switching over to DAS before the analogue deadline date, the tariff order applicable for addressable systems will apply for them.
However, these service providers shall have to get registered and establish digital addressable cable TV system (as prescribed in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation Act, 1995).
