Thread: Trai raises cable television rates by 7%

Trai raises cable television rates by 7%

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the telecom and broadcast regulator,announced an increase of about 7% in cable television rates in both CAS-notified and non-CAS (conditional access system) areas in the country.

The increased tariffs will be applicable from January 1, 2009.

After the increase, a viewer will have to pay Rs 5.37 per channel in the CAS-notified areas of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. Earlier, the rate was Rs5 per channel.

Cost of the basic service — that is 30 free to air channels — will also go up to Rs 82 per month instead of the existing Rs 77 while cable prices in non-CAS areas will increase by 7%. These prices — to be enforced by January 1are excluding taxes.

So if you're living in a metro city where CAS has not been implemented, your cable bill will go up from Rs 160 to Rs 171 for 20 pay channels and 30 free to air (FTA) channels. If you get more than 20 but up to 30 pay channels, your monthly bill will go up from Rs 200 to Rs 214.

Those in major cities like Agra, Amritsar, Dehradun, Dhanbad, Jamnagar, Nashik and Varanasi will end up paying Rs 150 instead of Rs 140 for 20 pay and 30 FTA channels. For viewers receiving over 30 pay channels, the cost will go up from Rs 170 to Rs 182.

Despite a minimal hike in cable charges, the consumer will be hit hard after the taxes kick in.

But it's not all bad news. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed that security deposit and monthly rental for set-top boxes should be cut down. Security deposit for set-top boxes has been brought down from Rs 250 to Rs 200 and monthly rental will decrease from Rs 45 to Rs 34.

Some service providers offer a second scheme where security deposit given by the viewer is Rs 999. This has been reduced to Rs 750 while monthly rental has come down from Rs 30 to Rs 22.

DishTV raised the prices already and that too very cleverly. Earlier they had some limited packages - Freedom, Welcome and Maxi. All packages were quoted with prices that included taxes.

Now they introduced four base packs (eight if you count the alternates for South India) - Silver, Gold, Diamon and Platinum. All packs are quoted without tax. There are quite a lot of add on a-la-carte packs, once again priced without tax.

It is a very clever idea and the customer thinks that prices have come down when they have actually increased.

For example, compare the previous Dish Maxi vs. the new Dish Platinum.

Channels lost from Maxi: CNBC Awaaz, CNBC/18, CNN/IBN, Star One, Disney, Toon Disney (or Jetix), Hungama
Channels gained: Colors
Maxi Price = Rs. 360/- pm incl of taxes
Platinum Price = Rs. 310 (Rs. 275/- + taxes)
Cost of addition of lost channels: Starry Pack (Star One, Disney, Toon Disney (or Jetix), Hungama) = Rs. 35 + tax, CNBC Pack (CNBC Awaaz, CNBC/18, CNN/IBN) = Rs. 35/- plus tax, which is Rs. 70/- + tax or Rs. 80/-
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New cost = Rs. 390/-
Less benefit of cost of Colors channel = -Rs. 17 (Rs. 15/- plus tax)
Revised cost = Rs. 373/-
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The above may seem to be a small increase. But the worst thing DishTV has done is downgrading the multi-TV package (http://www.indiabroadband.net/dish-t...owngraded.html (DishTV's offers for multi-TV downgraded!)). The child pack is now priced higher at Rs. 155 plus tax (up from Rs. 140/- all incl.) and devoid of all many channels.

Is this applicable for DTH as well ? I have just applied for Sun DTH will it affect me ?

If they are Free to air channels , then how come they are charged ?

Originally Posted by newprouser

Is this applicable for DTH as well ? I have just applied for Sun DTH will it affect me ?

If they are Free to air channels , then how come they are charged ?

FTA channels are provided free with all packs. Provided that you subscribe to least a few paid channels.