TRAI had raised the question if DTH operators should make available pay channels on a la carte basis to the subscribers as the cable operators are required to do in CAS areas. Dish has said that if TRAI meant they have to offer all the pay channels on a la carte mode, it would be a technical nightmare for the company. It has explained that transponder bandwidth is not as easily scalable as cables and also that by offering individual channels, consumers will suffer technical delays and increase in prices.
Dish TV has said that it would cause “confusion” if such a choice was made available to the users. We accept that such an option may be technically unfeasible for the operator, but it is grossly condescending of Dish TV to talk of confusion. The operator should be more pro-choice.
Sun Direct has said that making channels available in a la carte basis is valid only in a monopoly situation such as in the cable industry.
On offering all pay channels on a la carte, Reliance Big TV has informed that system limitations will not allow such a possibility. There is a constraint on the number of offers that can be accommodated on the subscriber’s smart card and the a-la-carte count of channels is far higher than the constraint and will be not be a viable option.
Turner International also agrees, expressing concern that consumer choice would be reduced by such a requirement because it discourages investment in new or niche channels. “If broadcasters can’t secure wide distribution (and hence, exposure) through a bouquet arrangement, they will be less likely to take the commercial risk involved in launching such channels,” its comment read.
:madness: :madness:
Only Zee Turner has welcomed the initiative, saying it would be in the interest of the consumers and the consumers would be required to pay only for the opted channels. It would also put pressure on the DTH Platform owners to carry quality content.
----------
Reliance was opposed to retail tariff regulation claiming costs of offering DTH service were too high to take such a risk. It said that the subscriber could choose to churn out at any point of time leaving the DTH operator saddled with huge losses on account of non-recovered STBs & recovery and refurbishment costs etc. for the recovered STBs. On fixing of STB rentals, Reliance Big has said that there isnt a need and that in the future, when more types of STBs are offered such as recorder STB and High Definition STB, multiple rental amounts would confuse the customer.
Dish TV has said that it would cause “confusion” if such a choice was made available to the users. We accept that such an option may be technically unfeasible for the operator, but it is grossly condescending of Dish TV to talk of confusion. The operator should be more pro-choice.
Sun Direct has said that making channels available in a la carte basis is valid only in a monopoly situation such as in the cable industry.
On offering all pay channels on a la carte, Reliance Big TV has informed that system limitations will not allow such a possibility. There is a constraint on the number of offers that can be accommodated on the subscriber’s smart card and the a-la-carte count of channels is far higher than the constraint and will be not be a viable option.
Turner International also agrees, expressing concern that consumer choice would be reduced by such a requirement because it discourages investment in new or niche channels. “If broadcasters can’t secure wide distribution (and hence, exposure) through a bouquet arrangement, they will be less likely to take the commercial risk involved in launching such channels,” its comment read.
:madness: :madness:
Only Zee Turner has welcomed the initiative, saying it would be in the interest of the consumers and the consumers would be required to pay only for the opted channels. It would also put pressure on the DTH Platform owners to carry quality content.
----------
Reliance was opposed to retail tariff regulation claiming costs of offering DTH service were too high to take such a risk. It said that the subscriber could choose to churn out at any point of time leaving the DTH operator saddled with huge losses on account of non-recovered STBs & recovery and refurbishment costs etc. for the recovered STBs. On fixing of STB rentals, Reliance Big has said that there isnt a need and that in the future, when more types of STBs are offered such as recorder STB and High Definition STB, multiple rental amounts would confuse the customer.
