New Delhi: The new tariff regime for television viewers will not increase monthly bills as service providers empower consumers to select channels of their choice, TRAI Chairman R S Sharma said on Tuesday. From April 1, viewers will pay only for the channels they want as new rules to curb the practice of bundling unwanted channels into bouquets come into force.

TV monthly bills drop down under new rules: TRAI Chairman R S Sharma

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According to new pricing regime by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), broadcasters, distributors and cable television operators must price each channel separately with the rate capped at Rs 19 each. The deadline was extended thrice to create awareness among subscribers. Sharma said the TRAI is collating data which will demonstrate that monthly bills do not increase. "On an average, 90 per cent of people's watch less than 50 channels. Even my monthly TV bill has come down from Rs 700 to Rs 236 per month."