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#GreedyBroadcaster Trends on Twitter as top Broadcasters, key Cable TV Operators Fight Over new Distribution Agreement

February 20, 2023
Bharat Times English News

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing tussle between the country’s top broadcasters and major cable TV platforms over a new distribution deal, the hashtag #GreedyBroadcaster became a top trend on Twitter on Monday. The hashtag has generated over 10,000 tweets on the issue and has seen users express their opinion on the outrageous pricing of broadcasters, saying it is nothing but a ‘threat’ and ‘blackmail’ against consumers. Is. ,

Many users have termed this as unfair and demanded that TRAI should intervene to resolve the issue.

What’s behind the broadcasters, cable TV operators faceoff?

It all started after Disney-Star, Sony and Zee switched off signals of their channels on major platforms like Hathway Digital and Den Networks – a move that denied access to popular channels to millions of TV households.

Broadcasters on Saturday moved to disconnect TV services from main distribution platform operators after these cable TV platforms, also known as multi-system operators (MSOs), announced new distribution contracts under NTO 3.0 (New Tariff). Refused to sign agreements or RIO (Reference Interconnect Offer). Order) notified by TRAI.

The All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) on Saturday said in a statement that its members will now sign new agreements to protest unfair pricing by broadcasters. The industry body also claimed on Saturday that the broadcaster’s move has deprived 45 million TV households of entertainment.

In response, the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF), the industry body of broadcasters, accused the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF), the industry body of digital cable operators, of creating a false narrative to garner public sympathy.

“AIDCF’s claim that broadcasters are raising prices of TV channels and that 45 million households have been affected by channel disruption is completely false. With no interim relief in several High Courts, AIDCF is trying to garner public sympathy through a false narrative. AIDCF is not only flouting the law, but is holding less than 25 million customers hostage, only for its own commercial reasons and disseminating misleading information,” the IBDF said.

The IBDF said that more than 90 per cent DPOs, including DTH service providers, have signed the revised interconnect agreement issued by the broadcasters, “in compliance with the law to ensure that service is not disrupted for the majority of customers”.

The IBDF also pointed out that AIDCF members who have not signed the new agreements because of being a “minority” are depriving consumers of their favorite channels.

IBDF also claimed that the increase in prices during implementation is largely due to the demand for increase in NCF by DPOs and not on the back of channel prices. It also said that AIDCF members deliberately refused to sign the RIO, leaving broadcasters with no option but to disconnect TV services from DPOs who refused to comply with the regulatory framework.

The issue has been continuously resonating on the micro-blogging platform with users expressing their opinion on the matter.

Have a look at some of those reactions:-