MUMBAI: TRAI has announced on Friday that any stakeholder desirous of sending their views/comments/suggestions on the proposed Regulatory Framework for Platform Services offered by MSOs and TRAI's recommendations can do so through email by 23 May.

TRAI has clarified that views/comments/suggestions sought are only with respect to Platform Services offered by MSOs.

In February last year, TRAI had recommended that MSOs be allowed to carry no more than 15 platform channels. Platform channels are channels or services offered by MSOs, local cable operators (LCOs) and DTH operators exclusively to their subscribers as value-added services.

TRAI had recommended that programmes transmitted by the DTH operators or MSOs or IPTV operators as a platform service shall be exclusive and the same shall not be permitted to be shared directly or indirectly with any other DPO.

"In case the same programme is found available on the platform service of any other DPO, MIB/TRAI may issue directions to immediately stop the transmission of such a programme. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) also reserves the right for cancellation of registration of such platform service of the DTH operator/MSOs/IPTV operator," TRAI had said in its recommendations document on 2 February 2021.

TRAI had first issued recommendations on Regulatory Framework for Platform Services for DTH and MSOs back in 2014.