(6 March 2009 9:20 pm)

NEW DELHI: In a bid to ease the pain of DTH operators over interconnection agreements with broadcasters, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has issued a consultation paper on issues relating to tariff regulation.

The sector regulator has also asked for views from stakeholders regarding value-added-services (such as movie-on-demand, pay-per-View), platform services (such as active learning, active stories) and carriage of radio channels on the direct-to-home platform.

The issues falling under the ambit of debate include carriage fee, tariff between broadcasters and DTH operators and their subscribers. Trai has raised questions such as: Is a cap on carriage fee needed? Should the fee be the same across the DTH operators? If the variation model is to be adopted, should it be based on the subscriber base?

The regulator wants stakeholders to comment on whether tariff regulation for DTH at wholesale level should be in terms of laying down relationship between the prices of channels/ bouquets for non-addressable platforms and the prices of such channels/ bouquets for DTH platform.

Further, the regulator has sought views from stakeholders on retail tariff regulation, along the lines imposed for cable services in Cas areas.

Stakeholders will have to submit their comments by 30 March, 2009.

Also Read:

ESPN submits revised RIO to comply with Trai's pricing for DTH