IBDF, NBDA jointly chart action plan against TRAI's new tariff regulation

The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) and the News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA) are closely working together to decide next course of action regarding the recent broadcast tariff regulation amendments after the Kerala High Court dismissed their petition.

Highly placed sources have confirmed to Storyboard18 that the ‘next course of action doesn’t include approaching Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).'

On July 8, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) notified amendments to the Regulatory Framework for Broadcasting and Cable Services and introduced a condition that pay channels that are available on DD Free Dish must be made available to private distribution platform operators (DPOs) on a free-to-air (FTA) basis.

IBDF, in its petition filed on August 14 to the court, challenged TRAI's disputed regulation and argued that the TRAI's onerous conditions will lead to a drop in the reach of channels given broadcasters will either have to pull out their channels from DD Free Dish or make them FTA to other DPOs and be outside the pay channel bouquets.

However, on October 7, the Kerala High Court dismissed the broadcasters' petition. The detailed order copy is awaited.

According to one of the broadcasters, the majority of the industry stakeholders and the members of the IBDF oppose the regulation.

"By and large most if not all broadcasters are against it. While the future course of action is yet to be determined, we are not moving to TDAST for sure," the broadcaster said on a condition of anonymity, refuting the media reports that select broadcasters are planning to move to the TDSAT.

"NBDA is working with IBDF on this," revealed another source.

It was further added that "We are still waiting on the detailed order and there is no tentative date on it yet. Future steps will be decided after going through it."