TRAI’s new pricing move aims to offer customers an option to pay only for those channels they want to watch.

In a step which would substantially cut the monthly DTH and cable bills, TV viewers have been awarded freedom by TRAI to select and pay for individual channels, as against the existing framework where viewers pay for a bouquet of multiple channels.

Earlier this month telecom regulator TRAI had released a complete list displaying maximum retail price (MRP) of pay channels offered by broadcasters to subscribers. According to the new tariff regime, customers now hold option to select and pay only for only those TV channels they want to watch at an MRP decided by the respective broadcasters. Major TV networks including Zee, Viacom, and Star have also announced their own bouquets, with different channels grouped together for a specific price.

TRAI’s new pricing move aims to offer customers an option to pay only for those channels they want to watch. The regulator doesn’t want the direct to home (DTH) operators to show viewers channels against their choice, making the entire broadcast framework transparent and fair.

TV viewers will have to subscribe to a base pack of Rs 130 + GST@18% (total Rs 153). This base pack will include 26 Doordarshan channels, and a choice of up to 100 free-to-air channels from a selection of 500 channels, TRAI secretary told India TV in a recent interview.

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The new tariff regime requires customers to select 100 channels, out of which 26 are mandatory Doordarshan channels. The channels cost Rs 130 plus 18 per cent GST. Another 25 channels can also be availed under free to air (FTA) category by paying additional Rs 20. With an exception to Doordarshan, customers can select any channel of their choice under the new regime.

What happens to existing subscription packs?

According to a TRAI release: “All existing packs/plans/bouquets to the subscribers will continue uninterrupted till 31st January 2019.” It means that the customers may continue with their existing plans till 31 January 2019, while they decide which channels do they wish to continue to watch later.

Check full list of rates submitted to TRAI

Here’s the link:

https://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/PayChannels18122018_0.pdf

Meanwhile, according to the new order by telecom regulator, broadcasters were required to draft per month retail price (MRP) of the channels. In addition, broadcasters were also given the option to offer their customers bouquets of channels, which shouldn’t be priced below 85 percent of the sum of the MRPs of the all channels combined in the pack.

“… Authority is of the view that after receiving any discount from the broadcasters in MRP of a pay channel or a bouquet of pay channels, a distributor of television channels may provide discount to its subscribers on the MRP of pay channels or the bouquet of pay channels declared by the broadcasters and notify the retail price to its subscribers”, TRAI order had said.