The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has pushed a bit further the implementation of the new tariff regime for TV channels, acceding to stakeholders’ requests for more time owing to the challenges thrown up by COVID-19 restrictions.

“Keeping in view the current pandemic situation across the country and requests received from stakeholders for extension of time for implementation of New Regulatory Framework 2020, it has been decided to extend the time limit for implementation of New Regulatory Framework 2020,” TRAI said in a statement Thursday.

In November last the regulator had asked broadcasters and distribution platform operators (DPOs) to submit compliance reports on “Implementation plan- New Regulatory Framework 2020”.

The new timelines actually take the effective implementation date to June 2022.

According to the TRAI statement, all broadcasters shall report back on any change in name, nature, language, maximum retail price (MRP)/ month of TV channels, composition of bouquets and MRP of bouquets of channels as per the New Regulatory Framework 2020, by  February 28, 2022 and simultaneously publish such information on their websites.

The broadcasters who have already submitted their compliance reports have been given the option to “revise their RIOs by” by Feb-end.

The DPOs, according to TRAI, shall report back on the distributor retail price (DRP) of pay channels, composition of bouquet of pay channels/ free-to-air channels and DRPs of bouquets of pay channels as per the New Regulatory Framework 2020 by March 31, 2022.

THE DPOs too would have to publish such information on their respective websites and, like the broadcasters, have been given a chance to make amendments in their RIOs in compliance with the New Regulatory Framework.

The distributors of television channels would also have to ensure that from June 1, 2022, services to the subscribers are provided as per the bouquets or channels opted by the subscribers.