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nels of their choice. option by such subscribers who have can choose these free-to-air (FTA)
The subscribers who have taken not exercised option yet. Subscrib- channels from a list of several bou-
long term packs will continue to avail ers will be free to change their ‘Best Fit quet offers. This will cost the viewers a
the services for the contracted period. Plan’ at any date and time on or before maximum of Rs 130, excluding Goods
However, they have freedom to choose 31st March 2019 and DPOs shall con- & Service Tax (GST). You can buy a pay
the channels of their choice under the vert their ‘Best Fit Plan’ into the desired channel separately over this package
new regulatory framework and in case pack (channel/Bouquet) within 72 hours at its individual cost. There are 330 pay
if they exercise this option, money for from the time choice exercised by the TV channels and 535 FTA channels,
the remaining period shall be adjusted Subscriber. There will be no ‘lock-in according to TRAI.
for their future use. In view of the larg- period’ for the subscribers till 31st March The TRAI has listed the price of all
er public interest, the subscribers who 2019 who have been migrated to ‘Best Fit pay channels as well as bouquet deals
do not exercise their options shall be Plan’ by DPOs. 10. provided by all broadcasters. No broad-
migrated to a ‘Best Fit Plan’. The sub- It is learnt that broadcasters have caster can charge more than the MRP
scribers’ old plan shall continue till fixed the maximum retail price for of a channel, although they can offer
either subscriber exercise his or her each channel, while cable TV or DTH a discounted prices to sweeten their
option, or he or she is migrated to the operators like Airtel and Tata Sky have offer. To add pay channels to one’s list, the
‘Best Fit Plan’. created their own package deals for customer will first have to remove the
customers. All network operators same number of FTA channels.
March 31 new deadline and broadcasters are required by TRAI The overall number of channels in a
The TRAI has extended time up to to have a base package with 100 stand- base package cannot be more than 100.
31st March 2019 for exercising the ard definition channels. Customers Customers can add channels by paying

Tehelka / 28 february 2019 54 www.Tehelka.com