While the TRAI frames itself as the guardian of consumer interest and market order, the MIB retains control over licensing, policy framing and final rule-making
According to TRAI Annual Report 2024–25, the country has approximately 60 million cable TV households, around 2 million HITS subscribers, and 56.92 million active DTH subscribers as of 31 March, 2025
Last year, TRAI recommended that DTH operators should pay a licensing fee of 3% instead of 8% on their AGR
According to the report, the number has increased from 9,351 lakh at the end of May ’24 to 9,407 lakh at the end of June ’24
According to TRAI, the active pay subscriber base for these providers was around 61.97 million as of March 31, 2024, down from 69.57 million on March 31, 2021
DPOs want TRAI to reduce broadcaster discount on channel bouquets from 45% to 15%, saying that the current discount makes broadcasters push unwanted channels to customers
Industry leaders express concerns over Broadcast Bill exempting DD FreeDish from the encryption mandate that can undermine efforts to combat piracy and maintain industry standards
Written comments on the consultation paper are invited from the stakeholders by September 6. Counter comments can be submitted by September 20
While the revised Broadcast Services (Regulation) Bill incorporates some industry feedback, it still has significant ambiguities, say sector experts
In the Bill, government has proposed that every cable and satellite broadcasting network operator shall transmit or re-transmit programmes in an encrypted form through a digital addressable system
The applicant must have special knowledge of, and professional experience in telecommunication, industry, finance, accountancy, management or consumer affairs
TRAI, however, has jurisdiction in the case of tariff forbearance and permission to DPOs to form their own bouquets, said the experts
TRAI has highlighted that the broadcasters have been charging DPOs with subscription fees for pay channels, but are also paying DD Free Dish to carry the same channels
As per experts from the broadcast industry, the recommendation to encrypt DD Free Dish channels is “just to please DPOs” and is pointless until Prasar Bharati falls within TRAI’s ambit
TRAI has allowed cable operators to offer up to 45% discount while forming their own channel bouquets to enable flexibility and retain consumers
The measure, said TRAI, will prevent unauthorised re-transmission of TV channels and combat piracy
TRAI also issued recommendations to MIB on certain issues like 'Listing of channels in Electronic Programme Guide' and the transition of 'DD Free Dish' to an addressable system
TAM’s application for a licence to start broadcast ratings is pending at the MIB for over a year now, sources say
Marketers and advertisers shared that a system of multiple rating agencies was likely to create confusion, and the focus needs to be on creating a robust process
In its recommendations on inputs for National Broadcasting Policy, TRAI touches on a lot of peripheral issues rather than recommending core issues which impact growth of the sector, say experts
Atul Chaudhary comes in place of V. Raghunandan who retired on May 31
Authority recommends revamping existing audience measurement system to establish a transparent and credible rating system for television, radio and OTT broadcasting services
In its recommendations on National Broadcasting Policy, TRAI said that there's a lack of an effective mechanism to authenticate subscriber data numbers on the FreeDish
As part of its recommendations on the National Broadcasting Policy, TRAI has said there is a need to encourage single-window clearances to ensure ease of doing business and enhance investments
TRAI in its recommendations on the National Broadcast Policy has said it was crucial to identify districts and blocks with low-density television penetration
The Authority had floated a pre-consultation paper on 21st September 2023, to elicit the issues needed to be considered for the formulation of ‘National Broadcasting Policy’
Industry experts say broadcasters may give some leverage and consider the concerns of cable operators
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In his career of 28 years, V. Raghunandan has led various roles in telecommunications, major telecom project executions, policy implementation and enforcement
At an open house discussion on National Broadcast Policy held by TRAI, stakeholders said there was a need to create a level playing field
At the TRAI open house on National Broadcast Policy, IBDF said that more rating agencies would dilute currency, while news and digital reps pointed out issues in accuracy, seeking more competition
Currently, DPOs get a 20% distribution fee from broadcasters on the price of TV channels. They have an option to avail 15% more subject to certain conditions
Media bodies like IBDF, NBDA and IAMAI reportedly raised several concerns about the National Broadcasting Policy consultation paper released in April
In their submission to TRAI, accessed by e4m, cable operators have sought that the condition for availing 15% more distribution fee only on ensuring 90-95% penetration of channels, should be removed
Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti on Thursday said TRAI’s goal is to provide a level playing field to all stakeholders in the industry
The total active Pay DTH subscriber base stood at 63.52 million for the third quarter
Dish TV CEO Manoj Dhobal and CMO Sukhpreet Singh spoke to e4m on the launch of Dish TV Smart+, the democratisation of content watching, the recent meeting with the TRAI chief and more
As per sources, certain broadcasters have advocated for TRAI to enact tariff forbearance to bolster the competitiveness of the pay-TV sector vis-à-vis platforms like OTT and DD Free Dish
e4m has collaborated with Hill & Knowlton to acknowledge the work of young communications professionals in the new series
Halting the price hike of TV channels may not hit broadcasters as much as losing out on the viewership could, considering big ad dollars will be spent during elections, say experts
Sources say TRAI has requested broadcasters to not increase prices of TV channels till June this year to avoid any kind of action and reaction from cable operators during elections
TRAI, in its CP for National Broadcast Policy, has recommended the idea of multiple rating agencies for broadcast sector. We ask experts if the industry really needs to think beyond BARC
India has nearly 320 million households, out of which over 100 million do not have access to television, according to TRAI
Broadcast experts say the policy does not address major challenges such as over-regulation, price controls and interconnection, but instead emphasises on the larger M&E industry concerns
In the consultation paper for National Broadcast Policy, TRAI expressed concerns about sole reliance on BARC for ratings
According to TRAI, the consultation paper raises questions about policy and regulatory measures
Cable TV operators are crying for help to survive the storm of OTT and hike in channel prices after the implementation of NTO 3.0
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At FICCI Frames, the TRAI chairman shared that the regulator has completed pre-conversation to identify the focus area and is ready with a detailed consultation paper
TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti, in a fireside chat with Tata Play CEO Harit Nagpal, said mobile is not replacing TV, but expanding the reach of TV