New Delhi Oct 22 PTI Telecom regulator TRAI Friday said some broadcasters are exploiting the freedom available for a-la-carte pricing of TV channels and warned that it will keep a strict watch on them and not shy away from taking action in the larger interest of consumers and the sectorWith an increase in TV channel subscription rates impending the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India TRAI said in a statement that the new tariff recently announced by these leading broadcasters reflects their intention to raise the prices of driver and popular channelsDriver channels include general entertainment channels GEC and sports channelsThe telecom regulator however did not name any broadcasterMoreover a sustained misleading campaign is being run to create an impression that the impending price increase is due to the NTO 20 new tariff order and broadcast regulationsIt is being publicised that anyevery consumer who opts top GEC channels or sports channels will end-up paying an extra amount of Rs 100 the TRAI saidThis is a fictional pretention as the NTO 20 does not entail or prescribe any condition for increasing prices it saidTRAI is aware that prices of some of the channels announced by the broadcasters are unsustainable as these are not demand driven or market determined prices and are against the interest of consumers the regulator saidThe price hike has been announced by broadcasters on their own in the garb of complying to the NTO 20 which is not true and rather an attempt to defeat the purpose of the NTO 20 that has already benefited the consumers to a large extent it addedThe TRAI said the purpose of the amendments to regulations for broadcasting for cable services sector was to ensure that no service provider corners undue gains and profiteers at the expense of consumersIt is important to note that the channel pricing remained under prescribed ceiling for 15 years since 2004 it saidHowever the new framework provided freedom to the broadcasters to fix prices of their television channels with certain conditions for inclusion into a bouquet the TRAI saidSome broadcasters revised prices in compliance to the NTO20 thereby passing on certain benefits to the consumers it saidFew other broadcasters are now exploiting freedom available for a-la-carte pricing of television channels The new tariff announced by these leading broadcasters reflect their intention to increase prices of driver and popular channels it said The regulator said that the new framework NTO 20 is a comprehensive code that balances interests of the service providers as-well-as the consumers The framework should result into reducing prices for the consumersOnce implemented in true letter and spirit it will bring in an era of transparent tariffs and usher in better channel content at most competitive prices it saidIn addition the TRAI will also keep a strict watch over the developments and will not shy away from reviewing certain provisions including forbearance allowed to the broadcasters in the larger interest of consumers and the broadcasting sector it addedThe regulator said it is conscious of the time required for the implementation of necessary changes to be carried out to incorporate the considered choices of 150-160 million pay television homesTherefore TRAI may review the time frame provided for implementation to help consumers in making informed choices it added PTI PK PK TIR TIR TIR