NTO 2.0: Driver GECs and Sports channels out of bouquets

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After Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), Star India has filed its Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) in compliance with the New Tariff Order (NTO) 2.0. Like Sony, the broadcaster has priced its popular entertainment and sports channels more than Rs 12, which is the MRP cap prescribed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) under NTO 2.0 for inclusion in a bouquet.

The broadcaster has priced 12 of its 62 TV channels at over Rs 12 across Hindi, regional and sports genres. These include Star Plus (Rs 23), Star Jalsha (Rs 23), Maa TV (Rs 23), Asianet (Rs 23), Star Sports 1 (Rs 23), Star Sports Select 1 (Rs 23), Star Sports 1 Hindi (Rs 21), Star Sports 1 Tamil (Rs 17), Star Sports 1 Kannada (Rs 17), Star Sports 1 Telugu (Rs 19), Star Vijay (Rs 19), and Star Suvarna (Rs 15).

Under NTO 2.0, many of the channels were priced at Rs 19 or below and were as part of the bouquet. However, the implementation of NTO 2.0 has forced the broadcasters to take a tough decision to either bring down the prices by offering channels in a bundle or increase prices by unbundling popular channels.Earlier, SPNI had decided to keep the MRP of its key entertainment and sports channels above Rs 12. This move by Star and Sony will force consumers to shell out more money for subscribing to popular channels.

A rise in monthly TV bills is inevitable, as other broadcasters are expected to follow suit.The broadcaster has priced seven of its HD channels at Rs 25. These include Star Plus HD, Star Jalsha HD, Star Vijay HD, Asianet HD, Maa HD, Star Sports 1 HD Hindi, and Star Sports Select HD1. Movie channels Star Gold HD, Jalsha Movies HD, Maa Movies HD, and the yet to launch Asianet Movies HD have an MRP of Rs 19. Five channels – Star Suvarna HD, Star Pravah HD, Star Movies HD, Star Sports 1 Tamil HD, and Star Sports 1 Telugu HD – have an MRP of Rs 21.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) has also released its new a-la-carte channel and bouquet pricing in line with the Bombay high court order dated 30 June 2021 with regard to new tariff order (NTO) 2.0.According to the channel rate card, Zeel standard definition channels including Hindi GEC Zee TV, Marathi GEC Zee Marathi, Bengali GEC Zee Bangla, Odia GEC Zee Sarthak, Telugu GEC Zee Telugu, Kannada GEC Zee Kannada have been priced greater than Rs 12.

Among its high-definition channels, Zee TV HD, Zee Marathi HD, Zee Bangla HD, Zee Tamil HD, Zee Telugu HD, Zee Cinemalu HD, and Zee Kannada HD also have an MRP greater than Rs 12.As per new tariff regime 2.0 order, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has mandated that a channel’s MRP must not exceed Rs 12 for it to be included in any bouquet. The aforementioned channels will not be part of any of Zeel’s 26 bouquets.Zee Telugu is now priced at Rs. 22 and Zee cinemalu is priced at 4.5. Earlier, these two channels along with 8 other language channels were offered at a price of Rs, 20 and now same set of chennels are priced at 27, indicating at a 35% hike.

It is now for the consumers to choose wisely so that broadcasters are forced to bring down their prices for want of reach.

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