TRAI released a circular on May 1 asking the DTH operators including Tata Sky, Dish TV and Direct Sun TV and the cable operator Independent TV to follow the new packs. It has also asked the abovementioned DTH operators to avail their customers with the new plans especially the long-term plans. The DTH order states, “In case the broadcasting services related to television have been availed by a subscriber with a lock-in period or the charges for subscription of broadcasting services related to television are paid in advance for a specific period by a subscriber in pursuance of any scheme offered by the distributor of television channels, the distributor shall continue to provide such services for such period to the subscriber without any increase in the price of subscription and without altering the other terms of subscription to the disadvantage of the subscriber.” According to the new rules, the subscribers who already had taken the long-term plan from these DTH operators before the new rules came into effect will continue to get the services. There won’t be any change in the contracted period or the terms and conditions. They also will have the freedom to choose the channels of their own choice if they already have the long-term plan purchased. The money from the plan will be adjusted in the channels selected by the subscriber.
TRAI came to know about the DTH companies from the reports and complaints from various subscribers. According to the complaints, the long-term plans subscribers of the operators were being migrated to the Best Fit plan. But the regulator has already clarified that the companies need to provide the subscribers with the long-term plan till the end of the contracted period without any change. The plan must be provided unless the subscriber decides to opt out of the plan before it expires. TRAI also said, “Provided that the distributor retail price, per month, payable by a subscriber to a distributor of television channels for subscribing to a pay channel shall, in no case, exceed the maximum retail price, per month, declared by the broadcasters for such pay channel.” For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.
