| Senior
MSO Alliance leaders told indiantelevision.com
that they have started talks with broadcasters
on the issue since the middle of this week.
MSOs
argue that since Trai is not likely to retract
or modify what is now commonly known as
the 'a la carte order,' and since TDSAT
has insisted broadcasters not impede its
implementation, the Order will come into
effect from 31 December.
The
MSO Alliance says that after 31 December,
they shall not be able to charge subscribers
more than the prices capped by Trai right
across the country. Therefore, the question
arises: 'Who will fix the channel prices
and the prices for bouquets?'
They
say they are telling broadcasters that it
is better that the latter come forward to
work together and create bouquets area/region-wise,
giving those channels in each area which
best suits the demographic and economic
pattern of the residents,
Says
an MSO Alliance source, "After 31 December,
we shall have to do it ourselves if they
do not come forward and work these out,
because we shall not be able to charge a
penny more than what Trai has prescribed
for each area.
"In
that case, we shall have to work out bouquets
which we feel are the best for each area,
depending on their language and financial
patterns, like more Gujarati channels in
the bouquets for areas in Mumbai with Gujarati
domination, more regional channels for other
areas and so forth."
Broadcasters
seem unsure as of now about their course
of action.
One
could be moving the High Court to ask TDSAT
to take a definite stand on their stay order
plea, but senior broadcaster sources said
that is not a good option.
The
decision from broadcasters, since the efforts
are being made, at very senior levels, will
be clear after the Christmas holidays, with
just five days to go for the implementation
of the Order.
|
