Follow TRAI norms for disconnection, TDSAT tells broadcasters

The telecommunications and broadcasting industry's tribunal Telecom Dispute Settlement Authority (TDSAT) has asked channel distributors like Star and Zee to follow Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI's) disconnection norms of serving a 21-day notice prior to disconnecting signals to hotels.

The ruling was in response to a petition filed by the the apex hospitality trade body Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India, (FHRAI) against TRAI's decision not to fix channel prices for hotels and asking them to negotiate with broadcasters.

Justice Arun Kumar, who presided over the TDSAT bench has also asked Star India, ESPN Softwares, Zee-Turner and Set Discovery, to file their replies before it within two weeks. It also allowed TRAI more time to file its reply.

FHRAI has been locked in battle with TRAI and broadcasters over channel pricing and had filed a petition before the tribunal.

In its notification on 21 November, 2007, TRAI had said that hotels with three star and higher ratings, heritage hotels, motels and inns having 50 or more rooms would not be treated as ordinary cable consumers and thus could not be protected by TRAI.