CAS tariff: Broadcasters threaten recourse

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Aug 31: Broadcasters have received with a ''shock'' the tariff order for pay channels in CAS areas announced by TRAI today, and threatened to take recourse to courts to get justice.

''The Rs five per pay channel is a highly unreasonable rate, and we are exploring all options including going to court for a review,'' Sony, ESPN and Star Sports and Zee Telefilms told sources.

They said different amount of money and different amount and kind of labour and skills go into the productions of content for different channels, so it would be ''foolish and unrealistic'' to equate them and price them at the same rate.

Describing the pay channel rate as ''arbitrary and unreasonable,'' ESPN and Starsports MD RC Venkatesh said they will be the most affected by the new tariff rates.

''They do not know how millions of dollars go into the productions of content for a sports channel. How can they equate it with any other channel like, for example, with a religious channel,'' he said.

Sony spokesperson Amit Gandhi said, '' We are under shock. Our business will be ruined. The new tariff plan will have far reaching implications for the television industry.''The TRAI tariff has not taken into account the cost involved in the making of the programmes, and ingnored the fact that not every channel can be placed in the same category, he said.

''We fail to understand the logic behind fixing this rate.'' he added.

Echoing views of Mr Venkatesh, a Zee Telefilms spokeperson here said no two channels are similar. Different kind of labour and amount goes into the production of programmes for sports, films, news and other kind of channels, so there can be no one price for all the channels.

All the three said they would first request TRAI to review the tariff, and if this fails, they might go to court.

However cable and multi-system operators have welcomed the CAS Tariff Plan, saying it was consumer friendly.

A Mohan of the Citicable said the new tariff will bring down the monthly cable TV bill for subscribers, which will prompt the viewers in non-CAS area to opt for the system.

''It is a positive step towards the digital regime,'' said Mr Mohan.

President of the Cable Operators Federation of India Roop Sharma said the tariffs plan was ''reasonable and consumer-friendly.'' Now the consumer will be able to view the programmes of their choice and can control their monthly bill, she said.

Rejecting the price declared by broadcasters for individual pay channels as ''too high'', the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India earlier in the day issued the much-awaited detailed tariff order for CAS areas under which subscribers will have to pay Rs five per month for each pay channel and Rs 77 for a minimum 30 Free to Air channels.

These rates will be applicable from December 31 in those areas of Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi where the Conditional Access System(CAS) is to be introduced from December 31, as per a Delhi High Court order.

All Pay channels will be offered compulsorily on a la carte basis.

Bouquets can be offered with discounts in addition to the a la carte offer, the TRAI order said.

UNI

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