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Updated January 21st, 2019 at 13:34 IST

TRAI New Directive on DTH, Cable TV: Existing And Long Validity Subscribers Have Significant Time To Make Transition To New Rules

Existing subscribers having opted for long validity plans and advance payments may be accorded comparatively increased time by operators, possibly till the subscription comes to an end, to choose channels as per TRAI's new directive.

Reported by: Rahul R
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With Cable TV and DTH plans now being the cynosure of all eyes considering TRAI’s new regulations that states customers to only pay for channels they would want to view with channel base pack subscriptions set at a minimum of Rs 130 without including GST costs, it only becomes natural for subscribers having subscribed to channel packages with longer validity such as annual and semi-annual plans offered by service providers to wonder whether or not their subscription would require to transition to TRAI’s newer rules on an immediate basis; from February 1.

In this regard, it is worth noting that existing subscribers irrespective of DTH/cable tv service providers having subscribed to existing plans offering longer validity and time periods, plus channels, should note that their current subscriptions would remain intact and there would be no financial burden on such consumers. This would most probably extend till the time their existing subscriptions (long validity plans) are exhausted (for subscribers having paid for channels before-hand and for longer periods).

At this point in time, RepublicWorld contacted Tata Sky who stated that subscribers with long validity subscriptions and one-time annual payments (semi-annual as well) could continue to experience their current subscriptions it is. The DTH operator also said that migration of channel package schemes as per TRAI’s new order would take considerable time.

For monthly package subscribers, the timeline to migrate and choose channels as per TRAI’s new directive is February 1 2019. For such subscribers, Tata Sky stated that it would offer all necessary help. Hence, such subscribers could closely liaison with their DTH/cable operators and make the new transition relatively smoothly.

In case subscribers do not choose top-up channels on an a-la-carte basis, then the free channels would go live post the February 1 deadline set by TRAI meaning there would only be these channels which would be live; deactivating the others till “pay for those channels which you watch” subscriptions are activated (by the subscribers).

Finally, if existing longer validity and advance payment subscribers choose to change their packages from February 1, then it would be the onus of the operators to appropriately handle customer payments and guide them towards making the shift. In this regard, do share your thoughts on TRAI’s new directive.


Also Read: Telecom Operators Accounting For Highest Spam Calls, States Truecaller

Also Read: Get Ready To Make Phone Calls And Surf The Internet On Flights! Telecom Commission Has Given Its Nod

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Published January 21st, 2019 at 12:08 IST

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