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Discounts by broadcasters to be part of RIO to ensure transparency: TRAI
NEW DELHI: In an effort to address the concerns of stakeholders, all broadcasters have been given the freedom to publish their reference interconnect orders (RIOs) encompassing terms and conditions that are clearly known to the distributors / multi-system operators.
The Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations 2017 notified by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has also mandated a time-bound framework for interconnect orders.
A cap has been put on discounts offered by broadcasters to DPOs to ensure that the subscriber gets realistic maximum retail price. Furthermore, these discounts have to be objectively defined in the RIO.
TRAI said this is expected to bring in level playing field and effective competition in the sector. While doing this, adequate flexibility and freedom has been provided to service providers for innovation and business ingenuity in offering their services.
Transparent and non-discriminatory access to all types of distribution networks have been brought under the regulatory framework. Besides mandating a framework of RIO for charging of carriage fee on transparent basis, a cap on the rate at which a DPO can charge carriage fee has been prescribed. Further, it has also been provided that the carriage fee shall change with the change in subscription level of channels. In this way, entry for new channels in the market has been made predictable.
Other features include a common regulatory framework for all types of TV distribution platforms providing services through Addressable Systems; availability of signals to service providers on non-exclusive and nondiscriminatory basis; and ensuring access to the distribution networks for re-transmission of TV channels on all types of distribution platforms on non-exclusive and non- discriminatory basis.
The broadcasters and distributors will devise and design their RIOs for providing signals of TV channels and access to the distribution networks respectively, in conformance with the regulations and the tariff orders notified by the Authority, and declare the same.
There will be a time bound provisioning of signals of TV channels & access to the network on the basis of transparent RIO framework.
All Interconnection agreements will be signed between broadcasters and distributors on the basis of RIO.
A framework has been prescribed for reports & audits.
Complete details are available on
The initial interconnect regulations were brought out in October last year but had been stayed by the Madras High Court but that order was set aside in an appeal by TRAI in the Supreme Court.
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.
