Broadcasters hike TV channel rates

India’s leading broadcasters have reportedly hiked their television (TV) channel rates after almost three years. Some of the popular names in this list include Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE), Culver Max Entertainment (Sony) and Sun TV Network, among many others.

According to a report in the Economic Times, with the hike in these rates, the monthly TV subscription bills for many consumers are also expected to increase. The new prices of both a la carte and bouquet cost of channels are expected to come into effect on February 1, 2023.

The report mentions that all above-mentioned leading broadcasters have also filed their reference interconnect offers (RIO). These RIOs, published by service providers, often specify the terms and conditions on which other service providers may seek interconnection. Accordingly, even Disney Star India and Viacom18 are expected to file their RIOs soon, as per the report.

“We had requested Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, which also regulates this sector) that they (tariffs) should not go back to the ₹19 MRP cap, but the regulator didn’t listen to us. Trai kept telling DPOs (distribution platform operators) that broadcasters will not increase the prices,” the Economic Times quoted a source as saying.

The report also adds the revision and hike in these prices comes in the backdrop of the amendments notified by the TRAI to the regulatory framework for broadcasting services. The regulatory authority had reinstated the old MRP cap of Rs 19 and also did away with ‘twin conditions’ in the new framework, as per the report. Outlookindia