DTH users will be moved to Best Fit Plan as TV channel selection deadline by TRAI has passed

Highlights: The TRAI deadline for selection of TV channels is now over.  Users who have not selected the channels they want to watch will be moved to a best fit plan. This plan will be curated by the user’s DTH/cable provider. TRAI had extended the channel selection deadline to March 31 and now, users who have yet to opt for their choice of channels will be migrated to a best-fit plan. This plan is supposed to be created by DTH/cable providers for their users and will be based on the previous plan they opted for. Additionally, the best fit plan will be based on a viewer’s TV watching pattern and the selected language. In a press release, TRAI had announced that the new plan is supposed to be a “blended combination of various Genres,” and should not cost more than the current or previous plan opted by a user.  Some cable/DTH users might have noticed that they have already been migrated to another plan. Those who have not selected their preferred channels until now can choose them now to remove the best fit plan and select a new curated plan. To preview how much their selected channels will cost, one can use TRAI’s online channel selector web app. There is also an option to ‘optimise’ one’s channel selection to reduce the overall cost. Users will need to select channels a-la-carte and can also select from bouquets made by network broadcasters.  Under TRAI’s new rule for channel broadcasters, pricing of every individual channel has been declared and it can’t exceed Rs 19 (excluding taxes). There is now a Network Capacity Fee (NCF) of Rs 130 + taxes, total not exceeding Rs 154, that features 100 TV channels. Out of these 100 channels, 25 are mandatory free DD channels. One can add 75 more channels that are either free or paid before needing to pay an additional Rs Rs 20 for adding network capacity for 25 more channels. Reportedly, some DTH providers have waived off or lowered the NCF for their users to get ahead of the competition.  Related Reads: Will new DTH Channel rules make TV watching cheaper or more expensive? How to add a-la-carte channels on Tata Sky, Airtel Digital TV, Videocon D2H and Dish TV as per new DTH channel rules  

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2HU5n22