The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday prolonged the deadline for the implementation of New Tariff Order (NTO) 2.0 for broadcasters to November 30. Earlier, NTO 2.0 was alleged to be carried out from June 1. This implies the brand new shopper pricing for TV channels and bouquets for subscribers will now come into impact from November 30.
Below NTO 2.0, Trai has lowered the cap on the utmost retail value of particular person channels that may be a part of a bouquet to Rs 12 from Rs 19 per thirty days. The order additionally units circumstances for formation of channel bouquets.
The Indian Broadcasting Basis is against this transfer however has didn’t get any aid from the courtroom.
Trai has initiated one other session course of within the matter to deal with the considerations of stakeholders. The regulator mentioned the choice to increase the deadline for NTO 2.0 was taken “preserving in view the continued session course of”.
Trai had acquired a number of representations from distribution platform operators, that are MSOs and DTH service suppliers, and native cable operators, which highlighted the challenges within the implementation of the NTO 2.0.
Based on the brand new implementation timelines, broadcasters might want to submit data on modifications in MRP per thirty days of their pay TV channels and the composition and MRP of bouquets of TV channels as per the brand new framework by August 31 to Trai and likewise publish the data on their web site.
“The broadcasters who’ve already submitted their RIOs in compliance with the New Regulatory Framework 2020 may additionally revise their RIOs by August 31,” Trai mentioned.
The distribution platform operators might want to report back to Trai the distributor retail value of pay channels and bouquets of pay channels as per the brand new framework by September 30. They may also have to submit data concerning the composition of bouquets of pay and free-to-air channels by this deadline. With impact from November 30, all distributors shall make sure that providers to the subscribers are offered as per the bouquets or channels opted by them, Trai mentioned.
