New TV tariffs: Distributors may soon shift consumers to best fit plans

NEW DELHI: Following the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) announcement on Tuesday that consumers would be given until March 31 to choose their preferred channels and migrate to the new tariff system, industry sources say it is likely that distributors will begin shifting consumers who haven’t made their choices to ‘Best fit plans’ as soon as possible.

TRAI had noted on Tuesday that to avoid disruption of services to those who haven’t made their choices yet, distribution platform operators (DPO) like cable or DTH operators could migrate them to a ‘Best fit plan’ based on their usage, language and popular channels. “Subscribers will be free to change their ‘Best Fit Plan’ at any date and time on or before March 31, 2019 and DPOs shall convert their ‘Best Fit Plan’ into the desired pack within 72 hours from the time of choice… It is clarified that there will be no ‘lock-in period’ for the subscribers till March 31, 2019 who have been migrated to ‘Best Fit Plan’ by DPOs,” it had added.