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Trai nixes exclusive contracts with TV channel distributors
MUMBAI/Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today formally issued interconnect regulations for the broadcast sector, nixing exclusive broadcaster-distributor contracts and disallowing premium on exclusivity. This has left most of the pay broadcasters uneasy.
“No broadcaster of TV channels shall engage in any practice or activity or enter into any understanding or arrangement that prevents any other distributor of TV channels from obtaining such TV channels for distribution,” the cable and broadcast regulator has said in its final “Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection Regulations 2004.
The ‘must-provide’ clause extends across the value chain. While broadcasters will have to provide signals of its TV channels on a non-discriminatory basis to all distributors of TV channels, multi system operators (MSOs) have a similar obligation towards cable operators.
The distribution agency or any other intermediary of the broadcasters and MSOs will have to “act in a manner that is consistent with the obligations placed under this regulation” so that it is not prejudicial to competition, Trai has said.
The Trai order will come into effect from the day it is notified in the official Gazette, which can be late today or Monday. A government okay for the interconnect regulations issued today is not needed.
The final regulation was issued today (10 December) after taking in and analysing responses from the industry. In an earlier recommendation on broadcasting and distribution of cable television forwarded to the government on 1 October, Trai had made a reference to inter-connection regulations. But the regulator wanted to take feedback from industry stakeholders till 5 November before finalising the regulation. The reason: nondiscriminatory access of TV channels will have far reaching and long term impact on the growth of the industry.
For disconnecting the TV channel signals to a distributor, a broadcaster or MSO shall have to give at least one month’s notice. In order to give consumers information, the notice shall have to be published in the newspapers or carried as a scroll in the concerned channels. But the Trai has protected the broadcasters and MSOs in case of unauthorised re-transmission of TV channels. In such cases, the signals may be disconnected by giving a notice of two working days, the regulator has said.
The regulation aims to promote competition both within the cable industry and between cable and other platforms. Consumers will be given a choice that will pave the way for price deregulation, Trai has said in its inter-connect order.
Essel group vice-chairman and Siticable head Jawahar Goel feels the regulator has done a “positive thing” for the industry, while being fair to most segments of the industry.
“From no regulation to some regulation is certainly a welcome step as it would bring about some orderliness in the chaotic industry, which needs transparency as well as investment-friendly environment,” Goel adds. “Hopefully there will be a gradual end to frequent face-offs between broadcasters and cable service providers.”
He further says, “We believe that this regulation will not only provide a level playing field, but also act as a positive impetus for the growth and development of the entire distribution sector.”
Welcoming the regulation, Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma says: “This will give DD’s DTH venture a great push.” Discovery India MD Deepak Shourie is very cautious. “We will have to study the Trai order before we can say something substantial,” he says.
Hinduja TMT executive vice president, corporate services, Ashok Mansukhani believes the regulation will ensure a healthy and transparent competition in the market. “It is a consumer friendly regulation. If there is a formal agreement and both sides mutually agree for terms of agreement, then TV channels, if asked, should be supplied.”
Win Cable director and ETC Networks chief executive officer Jagjit Kohli also believes it will have a beneficial effect on the industry. “Existing headends will have to pull up their socks and focus on service and other related areas as they have to prepare for competition. There is possibility of new headends coming up. Consumers will have choice. For broadcasters, declarations will go up in the long run.”
National Cable & Telecom Association president and an independent cable operator in Delhi, Vikki Chowdhry, welcomes the overall thrust of the regulations as it will help the industry to grow, but feels some “loopholes still exist, which may be exploited by broadcasters to continue harassing cable operators.”
According to him, “For the first time, broadcasters have been brought under some regulations, but they are likely to find some loopholes, which we had suggested Trai to plug. For example, cable ops may have to rush to Singapore to settle disputes with some broadcasters headquartered there, if TDSAT is unable to address certain issues.”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
