TRAI fixes Rs 5 per channel, Rs 77 for Free to Air

New Delhi, Aug 31: Rejecting the price declared by broadcasters for individual pay channels as ''too high'', the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India today 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.

For set top boxes(STBs), subscribers will have to chose between two schemes to be compulsorily provided by the multi system operators /cable operators as part of a standard tariff package.

There is one scheme with a monthly rental of Rs.30 per digital set top box plus a refundable deposit of Rs. 999 per box (refund will be made after deducting Rs.12.50 per month for use of the STB) Under the second scheme, there will be a monthly rental of Rs 45 per digital set top box (Rs. 23 for analogue set top box) with a refundable deposit of Rs. 250 per box.

The refund will be made after deducting Rs.3 per month for use of the STB.

Operators can offer alternative tariff packages in addition to the mandated standard tariff package.

There will be no separate charges for installation, activation or reactivation, smart card viewing card and repair and maintenance.

UNI