TRAI asks DPOs to switch-off pay channels of non-complying customers from 7 Feb

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked distribution platform operators (DPOs) to migrate those customers who have provided their channel and bouquet choice in the first six days of February.

From 7th February onwards, the regulator has stated that the pay channels of those customers who have failed to provide their channel and bouquet choice should be switched off.

The regulator had held a meeting with DPOs and broadcasters in Delhi on Tuesday. It had held a meeting with broadcasters on Monday to take stock of the situation.

The process of migrating the customers will begin on 1st February. The authority feels that the DPOs require few days to start migrating the customers due to technical requirements.

All pay channels have also started playing tickers informing customers about the migration to the new regime.

As far as the switching-off of pay channels is concerned, the TRAI was mulling taking all pay-channels off-air for 15 days from 31st January. However, after today’s meeting, it was decided to do the same from 6th February.

Customers who have not provided the choice to the DPOs will only receive free to air (FTA) channels from 6th February.

In the meeting with broadcasters on Monday, it was decided that the Broadcasters Audience Research Council (BARC) India will keep releasing the data irrespective of the fact whether the pay channels are available or not.

The broadcasters will need to submit reference interconnect offer (RIO) with all the DPOs to define channel genre.