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Trai may amend tariff order to tackle channel hopping issue
NEW DELHI: Cable and broadcast regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) may have to amend its tariff order dated 1 October 2004 to tackle the issue of a channel hopping from one bouquet to another vis-?-vis pricing.
According to sources in the industry, the regulator is seized of the issue, specifically that relating to HBO, and may hold consultations within the organisation as well as with the industry. Trai’s contention is that if a channel hops a bouquet, then any review of the pricing structure should not be passed on to the consumer. The broadcaster concerned and the cable sector should resolve the problem in an ideal scenario.
By year-end, HBO’s agreement with One Alliance will come to an end and the premier movie channel will hop back on to the Zee Turner bandwagon.
The core issue is: would Zee Turner increase its subscription price after getting back HBO and would One Alliance reduce the bouquet prices after HBO’s departure so that the consumer does not get to feel the difference?
The sources pointed out that if this does not happen, then the tariff order would “have to be amended suitably” to specifically address the issue.
Trai had said last week that while it is reviewing the annual price increase of cable rates, a freeze ordered earlier this year would continue. To maintain the sanctity of the ceiling, which had been made effective from 26 December 2003, the regulator had decided that pay channels launched after 26 December should not be allowed to become part of the bouquet of channels being provided as on the cut-off date.
A similar rule would apply for those channels that were free-to-air on 26 December 2003 and later convert to pay. It is expected that this would give choice to the operators and through them the consumers, Trai had said. Trai added that the new pay channels may be offered to the cable operator individually or as a new bouquet of channels that are not covered by the ceiling specified by the tariff order dated 15 January 2004.
Since the regulator had not envisaged a HBO-type situation, specific measures had not been taken, a Trai source said, adding, “But now this issue needs to be tackled if One Alliance, for example, after HBO’s departure does not reduce its price equivalent to the increase that is effected by Zee Turner, if any.”
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.
