TRAI NTO 2.0 – Bombay HC order gives some reprieve to broadcasters

Bombay High Court has struck down the second proviso of the twin-conditions of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in its amendments to the 2017 tariff order. This relates to fixing and limiting prices of the channels offered by the broadcasters in a bouquet, thus offering partial relief to the broadcasters.

IMAGEXX Awards 2021 to attend - REGISTER NOW

On January 1, 2020, TRAI had notified amendments to its tariff order of 2017, which was challenged by broadcasters, including IBF and Film & TV Producers’ Guild of India, seeking a stay on its implementation.

As per NTO 2.0, the cap on MRP of channels in a bouquet was brought down to Rs 12 from the earlier Rs 19. Moreover, TRAI also put a cap on discount on channel bouquets to 33 per cent. TRAI also mandated that the sum of MRP of a la carte channels in a bouquet cannot exceed one-and-a-half times the price of the bouquet.

GAMEXX Awards 2021 - Last date for submitting entries - Monday, July 26, 2021 - ENTER NOW

As per the HC order, broadcasters will now be able to include channels priced higher (up to Rs 12) in the same bouquet along with the lower priced channels.