Broadcasters move TDSAT against TRAI tariff order
23 Aug 2010
Leading broadcasters, including Zee Turner and Star Den Media Services, have moved the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) challenging the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) tariff order to cap wholesale price of channels to service providers like DTH and IPTV at 35 per cent of rates.
Some of the television broadcasters are critical of the TRAI's tariff order of July relating to the digital addressable systems, which includes DTH service and might approach the Supreme Court on the matter.
Broadcasters, including Zee Turner Ltd, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd, Star Den Media Services Pvt Ltd, MSM Discovery Pvt Ltd, said they would file a case in the SC if the TDSAT decision is not acceptable to them.
The TRAI tariff order seeks to put a cap for television content in addressable digital systems at 35 per cent of the existing analogue cable TV pricing.
The earlier cap was at 50 per cent of cable TV rates and the broadcasters are concerned about the loss of revenues from DTC services. The matter will be up for hearing on Monday. The order is to come into effect on 1 September.
Broadcasters say regulators should not arbitrarily lower the content tariff for DTH operators. They say the pricing of DTC service should be left to the market forces rather than regulated.