Lok Sabha Question No. 17 (STARRED), answered on 2019-06-21
Subject: DTH Rules
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

## DTH Rules

## *17  SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN :

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the recently introduced DTH rules have not been well  accepted  by  the  TV  users,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the majority of the consumers end up paying more contrary to what the TRAI has been propagating, If so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the measures proposed to be taken to ease the situation and help the consumers with reduced bills along with other user friendly options in the pipeline?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (c) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. * 17

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.06.2019)

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *17 FOR ANSWER ON 21.06.2019

- (a) The  Government  is  aware  that  the  Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India (TRAI),  to  ensure  orderly  growth  of  the  sector  and  after  due  consultation  process, notified  the  new  Regulatory  Framework  for Broadcasting  and  Cable  Services.  The display of prices of all channels on Electronic Program Guide (EPG) and choice to consumers to choose channels which they want to view and pay only for that.
- (b) As  reported  by  TRAI,  the  analysis  of  preliminary  data  of  few  large  DPOs reflects actual savings by subscribers to the tune of 10 to 15% in Metro cities and between  5  to  10%  in  Non  -  Metro  areas  after  implementation  of  new  regulatory framework. A few cases of a marginal increase in prices of multi TV homes where a consumer has more than one TV connection have been reported.
- (c) The  TRAI  has  taken  various  measures  to  ease  the  consumer  concern  as below:
-  Provision  of  consumer  corner  and  subscriber  corner  on  the  websites  of services providers for the purpose of generating consumer awareness and to provide all required information at one place.
-  Provision of Consumer Care Channel on TV at Channel No.999 for providing all the information related to TV services by the service providers.
-  Call Center established by TRAI for addressing consumer complaints.
-  Service providers have created their website and APPs.
-  Consumers can also provide their  choice to  call  center  of  service  providers and through their local cable operators.
-  TRAI  has  developed  the  My  Channel  Selector  Application  which  enables consumers to select the channels of their choice and asses their monthly bill.
-  TRAI has issued several directions, notices to service providers for addressing the  concerns of the consumers  and  effectively implementing the  new regulatory framework.
-  Numerous  advertisements  have  been  published  in  the  Print  and  Electronic Media in various languages to make consumers aware about the various ways to exercise options and specifically highlighting the most easy way to choose their channels, sitting in front of TV. Several videos have been developed and uploaded on TRAI website and other social media platforms.
-  TRAI has uploaded on its website, FAQs on new regulatory framework, which are  based  on  the  clarifications  and  queries  on  various  common  issues generally sought by the consumers.

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