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Trai floats paper on pricing of new channels
NEW DELHI: Just ahead of annual revision of cable TV rates, broadcast regulator has floated a discussion paper on whether all new TV channels should be made available as separate individual products only or not.
“This short consultation paper is in response to a proposal received from MSO Alliance, an alliance representing major MSOs,for amendment to the The Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Second) Tariff Order 2004 dated 1.10.2004,” the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said today in a statement.
The proposal is for deletion of the words “or as part of new separate bouquet” from the tariff order, which would, in effect, mean that all new channels can only be provided as separate individual channels.
The existing provisions, inter alia, provide that new pay channels/converted FTA-to-pay channels are to be offered on a “stand alone” basis and not be part of a bouquet existing as on 26 December, 2003.
The stand alone channels could be offered either individually or as part of a separate new bouquet at the option of a broadcaster. The Tariff Order also provided that rates of new pay channels or FTA channels that converted to pay channels must be the same as similar channels that existed in December 2003.
According to the regulator, the proposals for amendment to the Tariff Order were examined in the context of the detailed recommendations on broadcasting and distribution of TV channels, issued on 1 October 2004, which threw up a number of related issues.
Keeping these issues in mind, Trai has sought more inputs on the following major issues:
#Whether all new channels be provided as separate individual channels?
#Whether the prices charged by broadcasters to MSOs for channels /bouquets launched after 26 December 2003 be frozen at the levels at which they were introduced with an annual increase in inflation?
#Whether there is a need to provide for benchmarks in the Tariff Order for determining similarity in rates of similar channels and what can be the methods of arriving at these benchmarks?
# What should be the criterion for determining similarity of channels?
#What should be the approach in case an existing pay channel changes from one distributor to another and what would be the changes that may be required in the Tariff Order?
#Whether the prices charged by broadcasters to the MSOs should be released for public information by Trai as and when there are changes?
#Whether Trai should move towards pricing of individual channels so that consumers through the cable operators exercise wider choice regarding channels in a non-CAS environment?
The gist of the comments received will be posted on the Trai’s website. The full text of the consultation paper too is available on the website.
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.
