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TRAI to submit report on digital TV

November 25, 2004 17:57 IST
Last Updated: November 25, 2004 18:23 IST


Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is working on a consultation paper on digitalisation of television broadcasting in the country, which is expected tobe submitted to the government next month.

The regulator has also submitted its conclusion on doing away with access deficit charges, TRAI chairman Pradip Baijal told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar, 'TRAI report on Issues relating to broadcasting and distribution of TV Channels'.

Digitalisation is an expansive process and it would take some time before a final decision is arrived at, he said, adding, "capacity concerns are also to be taken care of".

TRAI would also include a 'must carry' clause (mandatory content-sharing across all distribution platforms) in the paper and rules of how it should be operational in the country, he added.

"We have to find a mechanism to finalise the digitalisation process and also chart out the roles of the government and regulator before it is submitted for approval," Baijal said.

On the finalisation of the consulting paper, the chairman said, "the digitalisation process is not an easy one and even after receiving approval it might take some time to finalise it".

On ADC, he said the regulator has submitted a proposal to the government favouring its removal. "The government is working on it and it would be done away in the next two-three years," he said.

Earlier, in his address at the seminar, Baijal favoured Direct-To-Home services, stating it would help in opening up of the markets and bringing in competition at the top-end of the broadcasting sector.

Advisor to TRAI, Rakesh Kacker said the regulator would also look into price control and allowing private players into the terrestrial TV market, apart from digitalisation.

Sony Entertainment Television chief executive officer Kunal Dasgupta said that a licensing and regulating of the cable TV network was needed, which would help in introducing competition in the cable TV market. This would also benefit the consumer, he added.

Indian Broadcaster's Federation President K S Sarma said that issue of Television Rating Points in India needed to be addressed "immediately" and added that the public broadcaster would be the worst sufferer if this is not regulated.

Sarma, who is also the chief executive officer of Doordarshan, said that the "price freeze" in the industry was not doing any good.



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