Disney-Star, Sony, Zee Channels Disconnected Over Price Hike Row: The fun of viewers enjoying entertainment channels on cable TV can be gritty. In fact, big broadcasters like Disney-Star, Sony and Zee had set a condition to increase the price for channels from platforms that provide cable TV. Cable TV operators led by the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) were raising hue and cry against the price hike but the broadcasters did not listen to them. It is being told that about four and a half crore families across the country have been deprived of watching these entertainment channels on cable TV.
AIDCF has expressed displeasure against broadcasters and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). AIDCF has said that four and a half crore homes are being deprived of cable TV entertainment due to the dictatorship of broadcasters and the apathetic attitude of TRAI.
Cable TV platforms did not accept the price hike offer of broadcasters
A statement was issued by AIDCF saying, “Disney-Star, Sony and Zee have stopped their services for the members of the federation as well as other cable TV platforms.” Protested the unfair pricing of broadcasters, due to which they did not accept the Revised Reference Interconnect Offers (RIOs) of broadcasters.
Explain that the broadcasters had sent notices to the cable operators for signing the Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) for the New Tariff Order (NTO 3.0). A matter related to the implementation of the New Tariff Order is pending in the Kerala High Court, which is yet to be decided. In such a situation, the cable operators associated with AIDCF had opposed the increase in the prices of the channels.
AIDCF general secretary Manoj Chhangani said this
AIDCF general secretary Manoj Chhangani said that cable TV platforms were given only 48 hours’ notice. He said that the matter is sub judice in several courts, some platforms urged broadcasters not to disconnect their channels in view of such proceedings. Disney Star, Sony and Zee have gone ahead and disconnected their channels on cable TV platforms of AIDCF members. Due to this, about 4,50,00,000 families across the country have been deprived of watching the channels broadcast by these broadcasters on cable TV.
What is All India Digital Cable Federation?
All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) is India’s apex body for Digital Multi System Operators (MSOs). The Federation acts as an authoritative voice for the Indian Digital Cable TV industry. For this it interacts with ministries, policy makers, regulators, financial institutions and technical bodies and provides platform to cable operators.