'If I must pay for what I want to see, let's have it minus the ads'

Over a month after consumers of television content found themselves braving Telecom Regulatory Authority of Indias TRAI new rules imposed on January 31 Mumbaibased media consultant Ravi Nair has written to the Mumbai Grahak Panchayat MGP objecting to the norms and recommending an amicable solution insteadTRAIs new rules seek to make it simpler for viewers to choose what they wish to watch instead of being bound by packs decided upon by the cable operator The tariff is set at a monthly Network Capacity Fee NCF of Rs 130 Rs 153 when GST is added for 100 channels These channels may include those that are Free To Air FTA or those that come with an additional cost which may vary from Rs 050 paise to Rs 19 per month which is then added to the NCF feeShirish DeshpandeIn conversation with midday Nair terms the rates obnoxious I am proposing a plan under which we dont need the segregation between FTA and paid channels he says pointing out that even though consumers may add the FTA channels to their pack of 100 they may not wish to watch them at all The channels that they would wish to subscribe to may come with an added fee that the viewer may need to pay in addition to the NCFIf we do away with this segregation of FTA and paid channels and pay Rs 250 or Rs 3 for every channel that we wish to consume it could lead to a more consumerfriendly plan he suggests Nair basis his opinion on the theory that consumers rarely watch over 50 channels and would hence pay an amount of Rs 125 per month if they shell out Rs 250 for each channel Their pack he insists would hence be cheaper and aligned with their individualpreferencesHow TV earns its moneyNair argues that the new norms are likely to make the TV conglomerates richer and provide little aid to a viewer Channels earn money from the producers of the programs that they air through commercials sponsorship and brand endorsements as well I dont wish to become a source via which they make more money If a viewer pays for a channel he must not pay for advertisements Let the channels stop airing ads in that case The model should facilitate the interests of viewers and do away with additional costs which only make the TV conglomerates richerMGP president Shirish Deshpande backs Nairs claims suggesting that the advertisement revenues garnered by channels are indeed enormous He finds reason in Nairs plea when the latter argues that the ceiling price of Rs 19 imposed on channels is high In a previous meeting with TRAI secretary Sunil Gupta I too had raised this concern but they claimed that the pricing had been arrived at following research I feel the costs tilt in the favour of broadcasters and channel owners This needs to be revisited because of the grievances of consumers There must be an indepth study carried out on pricing and benefits of all stakeholders must be considered he says adding that knocking on the doors of the court would yield to little result since judges may not be best suited to negotiate on the price They might direct the issue back to TRAIWay forward for NairDeshpande says he finds merit in Nairs suggestions My colleagues are considering it We have received multiple complaints from consumers who despite choosing whatthey want are being charged more than what they were before A press conference he says will be held after they have conducted sufficient research to pursue it furtherUnderstanding TRAIs normsThe new regulatory tariff introduces a monthly NCF of Rs 130 Rs 153 with GST for 100 channels Should a viewer require more than 100 channels an extra R20 is added for 25 additional slotsWhile some channels in this pack are Free To Air FTA others come at an additional cost which may vary from Rs 050 paise to Rs 19 per month If a viewer adds a paid channel to his pack this amount is added to the NCF fee of Rs 130Twentyfive DD channels are already added to the NCF pack of 100 They cannot be removed implying that a user can add another 75 channels onlyUsers have the options of choosing channels alacarte which is a single channel or in bouquet packs For example if a user chooses a bouquet of 10 channels worth Rs 120 per month the bill will amount to Rs 130 NCF120 bouquet pack 18 GSTViewers have the option of choosing HD or SD channels However one HD channel will count as 2 SD channels in the packAlso ReadTRAI Jio added most subscribers in Nov 2018 followed by BSNLCatch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates