TRAI lays down recommendations to provide affordable TV services in ‘TV Dark’ homes
TRAI in its recommendations on the National Broadcast Policy has said it was crucial to identify districts and blocks with low-density television penetration
As the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released its recommendations on the National Broadcast Policy (NBP) covering a host of topics and issues, one such issue addressed by the authority is that of the inaccessibility of television in over 100 million homes in the country.
With high digital penetration and technology aggressively making its way into every corner, there are over 100 million households that do not have a TV set.
In order to address this concern, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, in its recommendations on the National Broadcast Policy (NBP), said that it was crucial to identify districts and blocks with low-density television penetration.
It observed that the factors that may be attributable for the unconnected TV households in India primarily include lower income levels among households that may not be able to afford television sets along with other ongoing expenses.
Hence, it recommended creating an incentive scheme to enable Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) to provide television sets and Consumer Premise Equipment (CPE) through bundled schemes in such areas.
“An incentive scheme enabling the Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) to provide television sets and consumer premise equipment (CPE) to the consumers will go a long way in addressing the issue of unconnected TV households,” it said.
It recommended, “Facilitating financial support to consumers for affording television sets and CPEs through microfinancing, Self Help Groups (SHGs) and staggered payment options. Devising a Skill Development plan for skilling local youth for operation and first line maintenance of TV sets, CPEs and network.”
“Leveraging fixed line broadband infrastructure including that created under BharatNet to extend the reach of television services in rural and low-density television areas. Devising subsidized bundled schemes through the Public Service Broadcaster for provisioning of ‘DD Free Dish’ services including television set and CPE to the marginalized, tribal and economically weaker sections,” TRAI said in its 180-page long document.
The authority also recommended encouraging DPOs to devise low-cost offerings, curate content for rural underpenetrated areas and identification, reactivation and reuse of inactive set-top boxes through appropriate incentive schemes.
It is estimated that total television screens (including linear and bi-directional) are expected to touch 202 million by 2026 from 182 million in 2023. As per a report, India had 302.48 million households in 2021.
Therefore, there exists potential of provisioning televisions to more than 100 million homes in the country, it noted.
