All cable, DTH firms to unveil new channel packs today

All cable and DTH players, including Dish TV, D2h, Tata Sky, Hathway, Den Networks, Airtel Digital and Sun Direct, have been directed to reveal their new TV channel packs and prices by end of day today. In an update posted on TRAI’s website on Friday, the regulator reminded cable and DTH companies that they must […]

TRAI PLANS: Channel prices cut as negotiations drag on with DTH, cable cos

Even as cable and DTH companies prepare to pull most of the expensive channels out of their base packs from December 29 over pricing issues, three broadcasters — Times Network, TV18 and Zee Entertainment — have reduced or rationalized their channel prices and packs. While Times Network has cut the price of 10 out of […]

LIST: Discovery, Turner, Times Group & Disney announce channel packs & prices

Several smaller broadcasters, including the Times Group, Discovery Communications, Disney, Turner International and Raj TV have announced channel packs and prices under the new TRAI tariff scheme applicable from December 29. Unlike the bigger names like Star, Sony and Zee, the smaller companies have announced lower prices — both for individual channels as well as […]

LIST: Sony Pictures unveils 6 channel packs in SD, 4 in HD

Sony Pictures Networks India, the company runs popular TV channels such as Sony Entertainment Television, Max, AXN & Ten Sports, has unveiled a clutch of channel packs ahead of the December 29 deadline by the TRAI for the introduction of new tariff plans. SONY’S UPDATED PACKS CAN BE SEEN HERE The key difference between Sony’s […]

TRAI says new tariff regime gives more power to LCOs

Smaller cable operators in India don’t have anything to worry from the implementation of the new channel pricing order from December 29, broadcasting regulator TRAI said, adding that the new regime will enhance their flexibility and standing. The clarification comes in the wake of worries by some sections of the cable industry that the new […]

TRAI writes to broadcasters on dual pricing of DD Free Dish channels

Broadcast regulator TRAI said it is examining the issue of broadcasters like Star and Zee supplying some of their channels free of charge to Prasar Bharati’s DTH service Free Dish, while charging money for the same from subscribers of private DTH and cable operators. Several broadcasters had declared their free channels as ‘pay channels’ ahead […]

LIST: Zee Entertainment announces channel packs for Hindi, Marathi & other markets

Zee Entertainment, one of India’s top three broadcasting companies, has unveiled new channel packs ahead of the TRAI deadline on December 29 to switch to a new tariff scheme. The packs, which include news channels from sister company Zee Media, are designed to push’s Zee’s offerings into maximum households. As such, the company does not […]

TRAI tariff rules set stage for big fight between channels and DTH-cable cos

The impending December 29 deadline for the introduction of a new set of rules governing the prices of TV channels has set the stage for a mega showdown between broadcasters on the one side and the cable and DTH industry on the other. At the core of the fight is the question of who gets […]

FULL LIST: 332 pay channels, 500 FTA declared under TRAI plan

With the December 29 deadline for the implementation of the new TRAI rules drawing near, an analysis of the 332 channels that have already declared their prices indicates that Star India is the most expensive, followed by Zee and Sony. Scroll down to see the full list of pay and FTA channels available on most […]

TRAI Says New Rules Won’t Raise Cable, DTH prices Or Hurt LCOs

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has dismissed the “fabrications and concoctions” being circulated on social media about the new tariff rules that will come into effect on December 29. In a statement, the regulator countered two broad concerns on the upcoming tariff scheme — that consumers will have to pay far more to watch their […]

Most cable, DTH packs will disappear on December 29

With the Dec 29 deadline for the introduction of new cable and DTH plans approaching, operators are finalizing their strategy to deal with the regulatory change as smoothly as possible. According to industry sources, the strategy of the DTH and cable operators will be built around offering three primary plans — a basic pack, a […]

Star, Zee lists new channel prices on website ahead of Dec 29 deadline

Zee Entertainment and Star India, two of India’s biggest broadcasters, have come out with introductory web-pages on the upcoming TRAI tariff change coming into effect on December 29. The prices were already available to DTH and cable companies as part of pro-forma legal agreements. However, the opening of the webpages indicates that these rates are more […]

New TRAI plans could increase cable, DTH prices from Dec 29

TRAI’s tariff order for TV channels was supposed to simplify life for cable and DTH operators and their customers. However, given the recent Madras High Court order and prices announced by broadcasters, the implementation of the order from Dec 29 is likely to raise prices for cable and DTH services in the country. The original […]

New TRAI Tariff for DTH & Cable: List of channels priced Rs 5 or less

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is in the process of enforcing a new tariff scheme for cable and DTH networks in India. The system was supposed to ensure greater consumer choice by making channels available at cheap rates and ridding the networks of junk channels. The new tariff scheme — aimed at dismantling ‘bundling’ […]

TRAI Tariff Order: Discovery cuts channel prices by up to 90%

Consumers can expect to see a sharp fall in channel prices in days ahead, going by the trend revealed by Discovery Communications, one of the first broadcasters to publish channel prices under TRAI’s new tariff order. TRAI has mandated a new tariff structure for cable and DTH sectors in India under which they have to […]

NCLT admits insolvency plea against Ortel Communications by Sony Pictures

The National Company Law Tribunal has admitted a petition filed by Sony Pictures Networks India Ltd against cable and broadband operator Ortel Communications. The petition, under Section 9 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code of India, was for initiating insolvency proceedings against the cash-strapped cable and broadband operator. The NCLT also appointed an interim resolution […]

Hathway to launch Android TV box next month; Play Store support built in

Hathway, one of India’s top cable feed providers, said it will launch its Smart Hub, a smart set-top-box that will run Google’s Android operating system, in the market next month. This will make it the second big player to come on-board the Android TV platform, a special version of Android OS that is customized to […]

Consumers to benefit from new TRAI tariff scheme next month – Hathway

Hathway Cable & Datacom, one of India’s largest cable feed providers, said the implementation of a new TRAI tariff scheme for television from next month will empower consumers, even as it will be ‘not so good’ for broadcasting groups that make heavy use of bundling. Bundling refers to the practice by broadcasting companies of making […]