The All Native Cable Operator Affiliation Delhi (ALCOA India) has raised objections to Jio TV broadcasting India-Sri Lanka ODI and T20 matches on its OTT platform with out the required permissions. The affiliation has labeled this motion as unlawful and has known as on the federal government to take corrective measures. In a letter addressed to the Chairman of TRAI, ALCOA India’s President, Narendra Bagdi, has sought decision for these grievances.
Within the letter, the affiliation acknowledged, “We All Native Cable Operator Affiliation Delhi (ALCOA INDIA) are consultant physique of Native Cable Operators (LCOs / LMOs). That is to carry to your type consideration that how JIO TV is offering Linear & Dwell content material (which is regularised by TRAI) on its OTT Platform and on account of this the Cable TV Business of INDIA is struggling very large losses when it comes to enterprise and jobs.”
The letter additional detailed that based on information from the Broadcast Viewers Analysis Council, the variety of tv households in India elevated from 197 million in 2018 to 210 million in 2020. Nevertheless, these utilizing cable tv companies dropped from 120 million to 90 million throughout the identical interval, and this quantity continues to say no.
Questioning the broadcasters, the affiliation requested, “How are they offering linear content material on OTT platform. We now have raised this difficulty with TRAI & MIB many instances earlier additionally however there straight reply is that OTT is just not regularised. However we’re not a lot educated and conscious of the cable act as they (TRAI & MIB) are. Now we are able to counsel an answer which they might have accomplished a lot earlier. The answer is that, all of the content material on Linear TV is working after getting UP linking & Down linking permissions from MIB underneath cable act 1995. All this course of is regulated by TRAI and authorised by MIB. Now they’ll merely move an order/regulation during which they’ll warn all of the broadcasters {who’re offering Linear content material} to cease offering Linear Content material (Which is regulated underneath Cable Act 1995) to OTT platforms.”
The affiliation emphasised, that based on the uplinking and downlinking permissions granted by the Indian authorities, broadcasters are licensed to offer linear content material solely to MSOs, HITS, DTH gamers, and IPTV via their IRD channels. Offering linear content material to OTT platforms is unlawful.
Expressing frustration over the dearth of motion, the affiliation questioned, “Why is TRAI not taking motion in opposition to this unlawful apply that’s destroying the Indian cable TV trade? For the India vs Sri Lanka sequence, cable TV operators pay ?19 + GST for Ten Sports activities’ reside content material, whereas Jio TV affords it totally free, resulting in unfair competitors that might devastate the trade.”
The letter additionally addressed the unauthorized provision of linear reside content material for the India vs Sri Lanka sequence, asking if it was being accomplished via IRD or one other route. The affiliation hopes TRAI officers can get hold of this info from the broadcaster and supply a response.
The letter highlighted that Star India Pvt. Ltd. streams linear content material on its OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar, in addition to on channels like Star Plus and Star Sports activities. Equally, Indiacast gives linear content material on Colours TV and MTV whereas additionally streaming it on Jio TV, which isn’t authorized.
Warning in regards to the risks of unregulated content material, the affiliation wrote, “The unregulated content material have the detrimental social influence on society as all kind of content material are flowing freely via these OTT platforms with none examine. Additional the presence of all the foremost channels with none further price is luring the subscribers of cable TV specifically home wives, college students and younger generations who’re transferring to the OTT platforms contemplating it as cheap/higher possibility than persevering with with cable tv. It could be famous that the foremost/large OTT platforms are in home merchandise of the Broadcasters the place the content material of the linear channels are being proven even earlier than the content material being telecasted on the linear TV.”
The affiliation additionally famous that many broadcasters have their very own OTT platforms, the place they present linear content material even earlier than it airs on linear TV. They referenced a earlier criticism from April 13, 2023, in regards to the unlawful streaming of Tata IPL on Jio Cinema, which acquired no response from TRAI, MIB, or CCI.
