NEW DELHI: In a blow to broadcasting companies, not the least of which is Star India—the country’s largest broadcast network-- the Supreme Court has dismissed its plea challenging the Madras High Court’s order upholding the sector regulator’s new tariff reform.
The SC’s decision ensures that consumers no longer have to pay for channels they do not want to watch since the new guidelines implemented in June mandate that broadcasting companies cannot mix free-to-air channels with pay channels in bouquets.
This came as a blow to the broadcasting networks, who have been bundling their poorly performing channels with high-performing and FTA channels, forcing consumers to end up buying a bouquet of channels they did not want to watch, to be able to watch a highly popular one.
The Trai had also prescribed timelines for the stakeholders, with a deadline of August 31 for implementation.
However, when the Madras High Court set aside Star India’s petition against the order in May, the broadcaster had gone to the Supreme Court on the grounds that the tariff regulations issued by Trai were in conflict with the Copyright Act, 1957.
However, on Tuesday, a bench comprising Justices Rohinton F Nariman and Navin Sinha dismissed Star India’s petition. Most major broadcasters have already complied with the Trai order.