TRAI Pursues Tamil Nadu-Based Cable TV Operators Association to Revoke Legal Notice

In the recent unfolding of events, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday has asked Tamil Nadu Digital Cable TV Operator Association to revoke the legal notice issued against it due to the implementation of the new tariff framework and deferment of revised charges by Star India. The regulator issued a letter dated January 4, 2022to the legal counsel of Tamil Nadu-based cable TV operators group stating that the association is advised to take back the legal notice as M/s Star India Private Limited has intimated about deferment of all changes made in its revised Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) filed on October 15, 2021.

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The Reason Behind the Legal Notice

According to the report from ET Telecom, the state’s digital cable TV operators’ group is most probably not going to withdraw the legal notice it issued on October 18, 2021. A legal notice was issued by a Delhi-based law firm on behalf of TV operators group stating that there are no doubts on TRAI’s intentions but it is surprising to see the mala fide of pay channel broadcasters who have wrongly interpreted the New Tariff Order, 2020 and have significantly hiked the prices of the pay channels.

The action from the association has been taken in light of the revised channel pricing by top broadcasters in the country such as Star and Disney India, Sony Pictures Network (SPN), Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE) and Viacom 18. The group, citing the compliance to the TRAI’s amended tariff order said that these broadcasters were in compliance with effect from December 1. According to the operator’s association, broadcasters will be hiking the prices of majorly subscribed channels by the consumers by 100% to 200% under the Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) issued by them.