MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has directed five distribution platform operators (DPOs) to comply with all provisions of its new tariff order for the broadcast and cable services sectors within five days. The DPOs named are Multi Reach Media, GTPL Kolkata Cable & Broadband Pariseva, Digicablecomm Services, Barasat Cable TV Network and Bhorer Alo Cable & Broadband.
“Report compliance as per the new regulatory framework within 5 days from the date of issue of this direction,” ordered the regulator after it found the DPOs in violation of several rules of the new tariff order.
Based on receipt of complaints and inspection of DPOs’ websites and consumer premises by TRAI officials, the following issues were observed by the regulator.
Multi Reach Media
- The said DPO is not offering subscriber corner facility in their website
- The call centre of the DPO does not support IVRS
- The said DPO is not publishing STB schemes on their website
- Customer care programming service is yet to be offered by the DPO
- The said DPO is forcefully offering a bouquet of free-to-air channels with no choice to subscribers.
GTPL Kolkata Cable & Broadband Pariseva
- The said DPO is not offering subscriber corner facility on their website
- The call centre of the DPO does not support IVRS
- The said DPO is not publishing STB schemes on their website
Digicablecomm Services
- The said DPO is not offering Subscriber Corner facility on their website
- The call centre of the DPO does not support IVRS
- Customer care programming service is yet to be offered by the DPO
- Subscribers are not able to choose any channel of their choice in BST
Barasat Cable TV Network
- The said DPO is not offering consumer corner & subscriber corner facility on their website
- Toll Free Customer Care Number is not responding
- The call centre of the DPO does not support IVRS
- Customer care programming service is yet to be offered by the DPO
Bhorer Alo Cable & Broadband
- The said DPO is not offering subscriber corner facility in their website
- The call centre of the DPO does not support IVRS
- The said DPO is not publishing STB schemes on their website
Previously, TRAI had found six other major DPOs not complying with its rules as well as DTH operators like Dish TV and Airtel Digital TV.
“We are monitoring the implementation of the new regulatory framework by the service providers. In case any violation by any service provider is noticed, we will act as per prevailing law. On prior occasions, show-cause notices were also issued to few errant DPOs. TRAI never compromises on such violations of regulations or any market aberrations, if noticed,” TRAI chairman RS Sharma had recently told Indiantelevision.com during an exclusive interview.
TRAI’s deadline for consumers to select their new TV channels ended on 31 March. Consumers that did not pick new channels have now been migrated to ‘best fit packs’.
