News Broadcasting
Cable fraternity hits out at TRAI
NEW DELHI: And so the blame game goes on. First it was the government that was in the line of fire of the broadcast and cable industry stakeholders for favouring one segment or the other. Now, the regulator is coming under the same sort of criticism.
Miffed with Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the cable fraternity today hit out at the new industry sheriff as a clutch of cable operators from different parts of the country today expressed their ‘lack of faith’ in the regulator.
The bone of contention is not only TRAIs reluctance to regulate prices of pay channels, but also introduce a unified license scheme under which any company, including those operating in the field of telecom, can offer cable services.
“The attitude of TRAI is puzzling and is biased towards broadcasters. It cannot regulate the prices of (pay) channels, but is willing to put caps on cable rates,” Gujarat Cable Operators Association, vice-president, Nehal Parmir told indiantelevision.com today during an interaction with the media in the Capital.
According to Parmir, if this line of thinking is carried forward by TRAI, then it would be detrimental to the over Rs 150 billion cable industry as non-cable companies would muscle their way in to oust smaller cable ventures.
Usual suspects like COFI’s (Cable Operators Federation of India) Roop Sharma and National Cable & Telecom Association’s (NCTA) Vikki Chowdhry are of the opinion that the appointment of the regulator too, it seems, may not change the scenario for the better.
Sharma went to the extent of saying that TRAIs proposal to bring in a unified licensing scheme was aimed at favouring a particular corporate house that is very active in the field of telecom as it, through its telecom customers, wants to grab the whole world.
As if on cue, at todays press meet, the cable operators expressed concern over the possible entry of telecom companies like Reliance, Bharti and BSNL in the cable television distribution business in the “guise of convergence.”
Various cable operators associations from all parts of India, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Assam, Chennai, Bangalore, Gujarat, Hyderabad, Pondicherry and Punjab had yesterday apprised TRAI of their various problems during a meeting. And today they told the media of their encounter with TRAI.
Harping on same lines, the cable operators today said that foremost on their agenda was the vertical monopoly by broadcasters through their supported MSOs, which has resulted in the present chaotic situation in the cable TV industry.
A cable operator from Punjab said that TRAI has no hold over arbitrary increase in the rates by broadcasters and their continuous efforts to force increased connectivity on the cable operators.
Surprisingly, a representative from Chennai, where CAS has already implemented, informed the gathering that contrary to popular belief addressability was successful in the city
Whether anybody is listening or not, the cable operators have come up with a long list of suggestions for TRAI too. These include licensing of channels like any other service provider, having uniform channel prices all over the country, having the same pricing for channels for cable, DTH and other related mode of delivery and of course, cross service restrictions.
The big question: is TRAI willing to take a factionalism-ridden cable industry seriously?
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
