Twitter
Advertisement

'999' channel to offer consumer information to TV viewers

NEW CLICK: The channel will enable viewers to understand ways to complain for queries related network, billing, subscription among others

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has requested the Union broadcasting industry to allot '999' channel across all TV viewing platforms, including DTH (direct to home) and cable, for offering viewing-related information to consumers.

The channel would provide audio/videos for consumers access, which will enable them to understand ways to complain, post network related queries, billing, subscription amongst others, a senior Trai official told DNA Money.

While it has been mandated by the regulator to start such channel, the operators have the flexibility to allot any number for the consumer channel.

"We have requested for the same number across platforms to make it easy for consumers to remember/access the channel," the official said.

In another step for consumers, Trai plans to conduct consumer outreach programmes across the country to make them aware about various aspects of the recent tariff order and framework for TV channels upheld by the Supreme Court.

Trai secretary S K Gupta said the outreach programme will be carried out this and next month. Consumers need to be made aware about their rights. We are considering various locations in the initial phase, the first one may start from Delhi itself, he said.

Recently, the Supreme Court had upheld Trai's tariff order and interconnect regulations for pricing and packaging of TV channels offered to subscribers. The new tariff order by Trai mandates broadcasters to declare the maximum retail price (MRP) within 60 days and distribution platform operators to declare network capacity fee and distribution retail price (DRP) within 180 days.

This is bound to reduce the TV viewing prices for consumers.

"We expect tariffs to come down substantially. There will be fundamental shift in the entire framework bringing down the prices for TV consumers who will be now able to subscribe to what they want rather than being forced to subscribe to a bundled package or what they don't want," Trai chairman R S Sharma had told DNA Money last week.

As per the new tariff order by Trai, 100 free-to-air channels have to be offered at Rs 130 per month (excluding taxes) and rest a la-carte. The minimum retail price of all the channels have to be clearly mentioned in the electronic programming guide and users can subscribe to the channels which they want. It also mandates broadcasters to specify Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) detailing price, other terms and conditions to permit interconnection of another carrier to its network.

FRIENDLY VIEWING

  • While it has been mandated by the regulator to start such channel, the operators have the flexibility to allot any number for the consumer channel
     
  • Trai plans to conduct consumer outreach programmes across the country to make them aware about various aspects of the recent tariff order
Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement