In a letter to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) criticised Prasar Bharati for inviting private satellite TV networks to join its future over-the-top (OTT) platform.
The action is against the multiple system operator (MSO) industry body's own uplinking and downlinking norms, according to DEN Network, Hathway, and Hinduja Global Solutions, among other member companies.
“Prasar Bharati vide its letter dated August 5, 2024, has issued a NIA (Notice Inviting Application) to all the linear satellite TV channels for on-boarding on their OTT platform. The above NIA by Prasar Bharati is promoting broadcasters to violate clause 11(3) (f) of the Uplinking & Downlinking guidelines dated November 9, 2022, and its subsequent amendment dated March 24, 2023,” the AIDCF said in the letter.
According to an industry report, the letter was addressed to Secretary Sanjay Jaju and urged the Ministry to provide clear directions to broadcasters to provide satellite TV channels only to licensed service providers including MSOs, DTH services, internet protocol television providers and headend in the sky operators.
The AIDCF further accused the broadcasters of misinterpreting existing norms by arguing that national broadcaster Prasar Bharati was outside the ambit of regulator TRAI regulations and the federal law, Cable TV Act.
According to AIDCF, satellite TV channels are only allowed to send their signals to registered DPOs and cannot be included in Prasar Bharati's proposed over-the-top platform.
It also made clear how many streaming apps were proliferating because there were no rules or regulations in place. As a result, they will avoid regulatory oversight because they have neither registered with the MIB nor provided the government with their server or subscriber information.
In its Content Sourcing Policy, released on August 9, the pubcaster said, "Prasar Bharati may explore the possibilities of onboarding the Linear Satellite Channels and FAST Channel (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) for the OTT Platform. The initial period of such on-boarding will be One year and Prasar Bharati reserves the right to modify It based on the learning and market feedback."
The AIDCF also pointed out that the distribution platform operators would be destroyed if private broadcasters were permitted to participate in Prasar Bharati's planned OTT platform. They therefore urged the Ministry to order the pubcaster to remove the office memo about the onboarding of satellite TV channels.
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