Before the upcoming February 1 deadline for modifications to the broadcasting regime, TRAI has asked DTH operators to honor prepaid commitment on ongoing long duration packs, if customers wish to continue.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Chairman R S Sharma told PTI that there is no change in the February 1 deadline for the switchover to the new tariff rules and for broadcasting and cable service. Sharma said that he remains “confident” for a smooth switchover on the given day without customers facing any inconvenience.
Sharma also pointed out that if a customer with long-duration pack wishes to change his channel choices mid-way, which means opting for specific channels in the new regime, then the balance money in the customer’s wallet should be adjusted accordingly by the DTH provider.
TRAI’s new rules for broadcasting and cable television will come into effect from 1st February 2019. By January 31st, 2019, all the DTH companies and local cable providers need to implement the new rules. The new rule implies that the customers can choose 100 or more channels and pay exactly what the service provider is charging for these channels, void of any extra fee.
The premise of these new regulations is to reduce cable television bills and let customers pay for channels they choose to watch rather than getting a pack with channels they do not watch.
Customers can choose 100 base channels(more channels can be added although it will increase the prices) from a range of free-to-air channels(which are free). Customers can also pick their favorite paid channels or the broadcaster bouquet.
The base pack will include 100 channels and will be available for a fee of ₹130/month. The base pack will only include Standard Definition channels. Customers can choose any 100 channels among a variety of free-to-air channels.
TRAI also unveiled a web application for making the channel selection process easier for DTS users. The web application will help users in selecting the channels of their choice and also inform them about the MRP of their total selection. The application gives users step by step instructions and also curates a list of channels based on user’s preferences. Users can select the channels of their choice and know the monthly bill with this application.
Also read:
JioRail app from Jio allows users to book or cancel IRCTC tickets on the Jiophone
Cable TV Can be an Efficient Alternative to Take Internet Further in India: TRAI Chairman