TDSAT declines stay on DD Free Dish pay channel regulation, gives broadcasters two weeks to comply
TDSAT) has refused to grant a stay to broadcasters challenging the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) July 8 tariff regulation concerning pay channels on DD Free Dish. The tribunal has directed broadcasters to comply with the regulation by publishing a new Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) within two weeks.
The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) approached TDSAT after the Supreme Court directed it to challenge the recent amendments to broadcast tariff regulations. Earlier, the Kerala High Court had dismissed IBDF’s petition, stating that TDSAT was the appropriate forum for the matter.
The contentious regulation requires broadcasters to either make channels free across private distribution platforms if they are free on DD Free Dish or withdraw them from DD Free Dish to retain their pay channel status.
In its petition, IBDF argued that DD Free Dish cannot be equated with other distribution platform operators (DPOs) as it does not charge consumers a subscription fee, unlike private DPOs that do.
Previously, the Kerala High Court directed TRAI not to take coercive action against broadcasters for failing to publish RIOs under the amended regulation. The All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF), DTH operators (Tata Play, Dish TV, Airtel Digital TV, and Sun Direct), and Prasar Bharati had also filed impleadment applications before the Kerala High Court to join the case.
Web Development
Intermediate C++ Skills: Master Pointers, Structures and File Stream
By — Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT
