The All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) has expressed concerns regarding a notice issued by Prasar Bharati to TV broadcasters and urged the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to intervene and have the public broadcaster retract the notice, stating that it violates the current guidelines.
As per media reports, in a letter dated September 2, AIDCF urged I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju to issue clear instructions to broadcasters, ensuring satellite TV channels are made available only to licensed service providers, such as multi-system operators (MSOs), direct-to-home (DTH) services, internet protocol television (IPTV) providers, and headend in the sky (HITS) operators.
Prasar Bharati, in a notice issued last month, invited TV broadcasters to place their channels on its soon-to-be-launched over-the-top (OTT) platform. The public broadcaster aims to use the platform to promote “Indian values and knowledge” by offering family-friendly content, reports highlighted.
The AIDCF contends that the notice breaches the ministry’s uplinking and downlinking guidelines, specifically clause 11(3)(f), which stipulates that satellite TV channel decoders should only be provided to MSOs, DTH, IPTV, and HITS operators. The federation has urged the Ministry to promptly enforce compliance with the downlinking guidelines and asked that Prasar Bharati be directed to withdraw its notice.
On the other hand, TV broadcasters argue that Prasar Bharati is not subject to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regulations or the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act and Rules. As a result, they claim they can offer their satellite TV channels on Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform, as per reports.
The AIDCF stated in its letter that Prasar Bharati’s invitation to broadcasters for its OTT platform could potentially undermine regulations, disrupt the distribution ecosystem, and set a wrong precedent. The federation pointed out that pay TV platforms have faced a significant downturn in recent years, with the combined subscriber base of cable TV and DTH services dropping 33%, from 180 million in 2018 to 120 million in 2024.
According to the reports, it also raised concerns about the growing number of unregulated OTT platforms that are illegally distributing linear satellite TV content. The AIDCF stated that these platforms, by not being registered with the Ministry or following any regulatory framework, evade oversight. This lack of regulation not only facilitates content piracy but also adversely impacts the traditional distribution industry.
The federation has urged for well-defined regulations to prevent OTT platforms from airing linear satellite TV channels. It contends that allowing this would further strain the cable and DTH sectors, amplifying existing challenges.
The AIDCF letter highlighted the ongoing conflict between traditional TV distribution platforms and OTT services. This conflict is set against a rapidly evolving media landscape driven by swift technological advancements and shifting consumer preferences.
