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Through "The Telecommunication (Broadcasting And Cable) Services
Tariff Order 2004" all channel rates have been frozen pending
further orders at the levels they were at on 26 December.
The question the new order raises is whether connectivity will also
be frozen as of 26 December? This is particularly relevant in the
light of certain channels claiming that they have not increased
their rates, but have reduced the rates, provided the cable ops
and MSOs have increased their declared subscription base. Effectively,
what this is tantamount to is a rate hike.
For the record, the operative part of "The Telecommunication
(Broadcasting And Cable) Services Tariff Order 2004" is
as follows:
"The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), vide a Notification
issued today (Pausa 25, 1925 No. 301-3/2004-Eco) has specified a
ceiling on "the rates at which the charges will be paid by
the cable subscribers to cable operators, by the cable operators
to multi service operators and by Multi Service Operators to broadcasters,
as those prevailing on 26th December 2003 with respect to both free-to-air
channels and pay channels, and for both CAS and non-CAS areas."
"This intervention will continue until a final determination
by the TRAI on the various issues involved. The hon'ble Delhi High
court, in cw no. 8993-4/2003 dated 26th December 2003, directed
the continuance of implementation of CAS in Delhi on a trial basis,
initially for a period of three months, after which appropriate
directions would be issued after taking into account the feedback
for the three months' experience. The ceiling on rates have therefore
been specified as those prevailing on 26th December, 2003."
Click here for full details
of "The Telecommunication (Broadcasting And Cable) Services
Tariff Order 2004"
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