Pay TV restrictions on Freedish, can save downfall?

As you know. The Television service providers approached the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to prevent pay channels from being available on DD Free Dish, a free-to-air direct-to-home (DTH) service provided by Doordarshan. According to sources, the service providers filed a petition with TDSAT, arguing that the availability of pay channels on DD Free Dish is causing significant revenue losses. The petitioners claimed that the pay channels are being transmitted on DD Free Dish without their consent, violating their broadcasting rights. The service providers have requested TDSAT to direct Doordarshan to stop transmitting pay channels on DD Free Dish. They have also sought compensation for the revenue losses incurred due to the unauthorized transmission of pay channels. For this reason, TRAI is regulated once again. According to new TRAI regulations, the channels must either remain FTA across all platforms, including DD Free dish, or withdraw from such free TV platforms to maintain their pay-channel designation.

Pay channels will be restricted on DD Free dish?

Yes, the latest TRAI regulation, mandates that free-to-air channels on DD Free Dish cannot be classified as pay channels on other platforms. So it means, now no pay channels will be able to join DD Free dish. However, if TV channels change its status as free-to-air then it can join the DD Free Dish platform.

Are there worries about free dish viewers?

No, the same channel will change its status as an FTA channel, and then it will be available free on all DTH, Cable TV, DD Free dish, and internet. Currently, no analog system so everywhere its viewership will be traceable and countable beside DD Free dish.

Can this save the downfall of the pay-TV connection?

No, I don’t think that It will not be able to save the downfall of a pay TV connection because all the free-to-air TV channels can be accessible by using a free-to-air system including OTT (Freeplay), IPTV Satellite dish but if you are watching the same FTA channels on your pay TV service then you have to pay network capacity fees, earlier at the same price all the popular pay TV channels were accessible. For example – 2 years ago, four main entertainment TV channels Zee Anmol, Star Utsav, Colors Rishtey, and Sony PAL left the DD Free dish platform, Does anybody have any data that by taking this step how the pay-TV industry has grown and how much these broadcasters lost? If I am wrong, then you will see its results by the next quarter or year. But my experience says that some bodies are playing in the wrong battle, I have been very close to Cable TV customers since 1998 when I was working with Cable TV operators. So Pay TV restrictions on Free Dish might not be enough to save the downfall of traditional TV services. But still, let’s see. Blog by Pradeep Disclaimer – This is a blog post based on the author’s experiences and thoughts. Also read – Confirmed, Free DTH viewers lost once again most popular TV channels