In a far-reaching decision that strives to ensure delivery of quality channels at the DTH subscriber’s home, the telecom regulator has directed all broadcasters not to compel DTH operators to buy the entire bouquet of channels but let them pick what they think are the best.

The new regulations announced on Monday by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) could intensify the survival struggle of less-performing or new channels which have been piggy-backing the popular channels in the bouquet offered by the broadcaster.

Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Fourth Amendment) Regulation 2007, coming in force from December 1, allows broadcasters to sell the bouquet only in addition to the a la carte choice of the DTH service providers.

The new regulation aims to resolve the ongoing tussle between the broadcaster and DTH operator where the latter had been protesting against taking less popular channels along with the hit ones in a bouquet. “All broadcasters will compulsorily offer all their channels on a la carte basis to DTH operators,” the new regulation said.

“Additionally, they may also offer bouquets, but they will not compel any DTH operator to include the entire bouquet in any package being offered by DTH operators to their subscribers,” it added.

Fortifying further the a la carte mode of picking up channels, TRAI also ruled that the sum-total rate of pay channels picked by the DTH operators will not exceed 1.5 times the rate of the entire bouquet. Also, no a la carte rate of a pay channel in a bouquet will be more than three times the average pay channel rate of that bouquet.

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