Broadcasters release pay channel rates for non-CAS areas

New Delhi, Jan 18 (UNI) Telecom regulatory Authority of India today released the filings by the broadcasters regarding the a-la-carte rates and bouquet rates of their pay channels in non-CAS area.

The filings can be found on TRAI website.

Under an amendment tariff order of October 4, broadcasters were required to provide all their channels on a-la-carte basis also in a non-discriminatory manner and declare the a-la-carte rates to the multi-system operators (MSOs)/cable operators for such channels in non-CAS areas. Bouquets of channels can also be offered by them.

TRAI said in order to ensure that the MSOs and cable operators get the content in a non-discriminatory manner, it is necessary for them to know the rates declared by the broadcasters.

Accordingly, the scanned copies of these filings (excluding the confidential portions) made by the broadcasters are placed on the web-site for information of the stakeholders, it said.

However, the Telecom Regulator said publication of these filings on its website should not be construed as its approval of such filing.

''These rates are only meant to provide a basis for appropriate interconnection agreements between broadcasters on one hand and MSOs/cable operators on the other, and should not be taken as rates applicable at the consumer's end, which is technically not feasible due to absence of accessability in non-CAS areas,'' TRAI said.

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