| The MSO Alliance, a body of big MSOs including
InCablenet, Hathway Cable & Datacom, Siticable, RPG Netcom and
Sumangali Cable Vision, presented a joint view on the inter-connect
draft regulation to the Trai on 5 November. Trai had recommended that
content be provided on all delivery platforms, including cable, direct-to-home
(DTH) and headend-in-the-sky (HITS) as 'exclusivity' would lead to
'anti-competition' practices.
"We feel that Trai will eventually be in support of the must-provide
clause. So there is no point in opposing this. You have to be competitive.
These are economics that can't be stopped," says the source.
According to Trai's draft on inter-connect regulation, broadcasters
can't deny content to cable operators on a discriminatory basis.
This will bring in new players into the cable TV business, leading
to further competition and fragmentation. A result of this, experts
say, will be a fall in subscription prices. But, at the same time,
existing MSOs feel the 'must-provide' clause will protect them from
frequent disputes with broadcasters over blackout of feed.
Meanwhile, the last mile cable operators have written to the broadcast
and cable TV regulator to ensure that their interests are protected.
Says Cable Operators and Distributors Association president Anil
Parab, "Whatever be the final recommendations, Trai shouldn't
harm cable operators. We have written to the regulator, stating
that our businesses shouldn't come under threat."
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