TRAI ISSUES NOTICE TO ESPN

Nivedita Mookerji, New Delhi
DNAThe Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Tuesday issued a show-cause notice to broadcaster ESPN Software India for violating its directions on direct-to-home (DTH) Interconnect norms, including on tariffs.

According to Trai, any broadcaster who refuses access on a non-discriminatory basis to another DTH operator, contrary to regulations made by the Authority, is liable to be proceeded against for appropriate action, including a prohibition on carriage by any DTH licencee.

ESPN has been asked by the regulator to show within three working days as to why action should not be initiated against it and a complaint should not be filed before the court over the violation. ESPN has to also show cause why Trai should not recommend to the I&B ministry that the broadcaster’s licence be revoked.

In case ESPN does not respond within three days, action would be taken against the broadcaster, Trai said in a notice sent to ESPN managing director R C Venkateish. As per Trai’s direction last month, ESPN must revise its reference interconnect offer for DTH platforms. That is, the broadcaster must offer DTH operators the same bouquets it is providing to non-CAS cable distribution. Also, ESPN must offer to the DTH operators the bouquets/channels at 50% the rates at which such channels are being offered for non-CAS cable distribution.