IBF meets to discuss Trai recommendations

IBF meets to discuss Trai recommendations

IBF

MUMBAI: The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), an apex body of broadcasting companies, will soon submit before the information & broadcasting ministry its viewpoint on the recent recommendations made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

Representatives from the broadcasting companies including Star India, Sony Entertainment Television India, TV Today and ESPN Star Sports, attended the IBF meeting in Mumbai today. Broadcasters will individually present their viewpoint to IBF on the Trai recommendations. "We are likely to put up our views by Monday," says the head of a leading channel. The IBF will consolidate the viewpoints and present it before the ministry.

Trai released its recommendations on 1 October on the "Issues relating to broadcasting and distribution of TV channels." The regulator had suggested that pay channels launched after 26 December, 2003, should not be allowed to join an existing bouquet. Trai also suggested three models on addressability - all new channels after a notified date to come through a STB; TRAPS along with the provision of new channels through a STB; and mandated CAS.