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It
also refused to entertain a demand that
MSOs (multi-system operator) must provide
names and addresses of their subscribers.
Further arguments in the case have been
listed for 11 March.
The
broadcasters had earlier demanded that MSOs
give the names and addresses of all LCOs
and even that of every subscriber, as a
condition for receiving signals at the à
la carte rates.
The
counsels for the content aggregators then
requested the tribunal to make their terms
and conditions for a la carte channels as
a part of the TDSAT order, but that too
was refused, on the same ground of violation
of the September 4 regulation.
That
regulation requires the MSO / LCOs to make
a monthly statement of the subscriber base
only, not the names and addresses of the
subscribers.
Tdsat
chairperson Arun Kumar heard the appellants'
counsel argue that the Order will ultimately
not benefit the subscribers but that the
tariff Order was in public interest and
the tribunal would not stay any regulation
that is of that nature.
The
tribunal asked the parties to begin their
pleadings from 11 March. One aspect of the
case that is also coming up is that on the
issue of subscriber base, one of the conditions
that Zee has placed while making the offer
is that the Subscriber Line Reports have
to be audited by an independent agency to
be appointed by the Indian Broadcasting
Foundation.
However,
while IBF says it broadcasters are legally
allowed to ask it to conduct surveys on
SLRs, the legal experts hold that this would
grant the regulatory authority of Trai to
IBF, and this is the next most serious issue
coming up on 11 March.
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