MIB transfers ALCOA’s complaint against NTO to TRAI

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has referred to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) the complaint filed by the All Local Cable Operators Association of India (ALCOA India) on December 28 against the New Tariff Order (NTO) 2.0. (TRAI).

"I am enclosing a copy of an All Local Cable Operator Association Delhi submission dated 28.12.2021 about the implementation of the New Tariff Order 2.0. Because this is a TRAI problem, it is referred here for the proper action to be taken "In a memo to TRAI Secretary V Raghunandan, MIB Section Officer (DAS) Bijay Pal Sharma stated.

The ALCOA India said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the NTO 2.0 would result in widespread unemployment in the cable TV business. Local cable operators (LCOs) and multi-system operators would be able to break free once the NTO 2.0 is implemented, according to the MSOs.
ALCOA India has requested the PM to halt the implementation of NTO 2.0, calling it a "black law."

"Sir, on behalf of the Local Cable Operators, MSOs, and their employees, we respectfully demand that you take action to prevent the implementation of the KAALA KANOON (Black Law)," said the submission.

Broadcasters have raised the MRP of most in-demand channels like Star Plus, Zee TV, Sony TV, and Colors while keeping them out of baskets in protest against the TRAI's NTO 2.0, which caps the MRP of channels in a bouquet at Rs 12 and imposes a slew of additional limitations on bundling and packaging.
The letter also stated: "Foreign and Indian pay broadcasters have looted crores of consumers of the country. Before the implementation of the NTO, the price of Star Plus was Rs 7.87, Zee TV was Rs 5.83, Sony TV was 8.90 and Colors was Rs 8.90. This became Rs 19 after February 2019 which is a 250% increase."