Digicable case against TRAI's revenue sharing-next date 24 August 2012

Hearing two of the cases filed against TRAI’s revenue share formula for DAS areas today, TDSAT adjourned the hearing on 24 August 2012.Adjournment was made as TRAI filed its reply to the notice only on Saturday, 04 August 2012 and petitioners wanted to file a rejoinder.

Digicable, one of the leading multi-system operators (MSO) in the country, had approached broadcast tribunal TDSAT opposing the regulator TRAI's new revenue sharing mechanism under the proposed digitalisation of the cable industry in June 2012 and on 25 June, Court had adjourned the case to 07 August 2012 along with another case filed by an LCO body United Cable Operator's Welfare Association for the same purpose.

In its petition, Digicable has termed the new proposed tariff sharing mechanism as "unjust, unfair, unreasonable, arbitrary, irrational, discriminatory" and tilted towards the broadcasters and has requested the tribunal to strike down the revenue model.

Trai in its order on digitalisation had said that the subscription of paid channels or bouquet of paid channels shall be shared in the ratio of 65:35 between MSO and the local/area cable operator (LCOs) respectively.

TDSAT is already hearing a similar petition by IMCL, a Hinduja group Multi System Operator (MSO), which has challenged the new revenue sharing formula contending the model "illegal and against public interest". This case is being heard on 24 August 2012.

Several news channels and their association NBA have become a party in this case supporting TRAI in the matter. The tribunal also allowed the plea of India Broadcast Foundation (IBF), a lobby group of television broadcasters to be a party in it.

TRAI on April 30 had issued the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Fourth) (Addressable Systems) Tariff Order, 2012 to digitalise the cable channels delivery system in all metros by June 30, 2012. However, the deadline for digitisation in metros has been postponed to November 1, 2012

The regulator has also fixed tariff rules for cable TV, LCOs and MSOs by its Digital Addressable Systems Regulation and Tariff Orders, which has been opposed by the MSOs and the local cable operators.

Source: http://cablequest.org/news/cable-news/item/330-digicable-case-against-trais-revenue-sharing-next-date-24-august-2012.html
Source: http://cablequest.org/news/cable-news/item/330-digicable-case-against-trais-revenue-sharing-next-date-24-august-2012.html