Revenue-sharing formula favours broadcasters, says Delhi MSO to TDSAT

A Delhi based MSO has argued before TDSAT that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) tariff order was drafted at the behest of broadcasters and that’s the reason it favours the hence, the revenue-sharing formula seems to have benefited them the most.

Surprisingly, the argument also cites tacit admission in Para 27 of the Explanatory Memorandum of the Tariff Order issued on 30 April, said counsel for multi system operator (MSO) Delhi Distribution Company Navin Chawla. He was presenting his argument while challenging the Trai tariff order in Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

The tariff order was issued just before the digitization process was about to begin in the four metros. The deadline for the same has been fixed on November 1, 2012.

He further said that a channel may be started by a broadcaster whether there is a demand for it or not, but the MSO would still have to keep it in 500 mandated television channels. A channel with less than 5 per cent viewership still had to be received from the broadcaster, though MSO could remove it from the bouquet for (up to) one year. Every MSO will have to create the infrastructure for carrying 500 channels whether there was demand for all or not, the counsel said the rule favoured the broadcasters. "A broadcaster is free to set up a channel, but I (MSO) cannot be forced to provide a platform for it even if there is no demand,' Chawla said.

Source: http://cablequest.org/news/cable-news/item/297-revenue-sharing-formula-favours-broadcasters-says-delhi-mso-to-tdsat.html
Source: http://cablequest.org/news/cable-news/item/297-revenue-sharing-formula-favours-broadcasters-says-delhi-mso-to-tdsat.html