Section 62 in Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Eighth) (Addressable Systems) Tariff Order, 2017
62. On the other hand most of the distributors of television channels are of the view that MRP of a channel should be uniform across India instead of different prices across geographical areas. They have mentioned that variation in pricing on the basis of geographical area may result in discriminatory pricing. They have further stated that prescription of geographical areas in the draft TTO is not based on any study or data and these have been specified without giving any opportunity to the stakeholders to offer their comments on the same. Some MSOs are of the view that fixing of different tariff for different geographical areas will create system related issues since most of the distributors of television channels have single head-end catering to more than one different geographies. According to them it would not be possible to define and control movement of STBs from one location to another and pass on appropriate changes in tariff plans to the subscribers based on the geographical situation of the STB. They further stated that it will also be very difficult to manage and control the different rates of channels mentioned in the EPG for different geographies. DTH operators also mentioned that they do not have any mechanism to exactly know the location of the user. They are of the opinion that differential pricing on the basis of geographical areas can be misused and it may result in disputes relating to payment settlements among stakeholders.
