TRAI ensures to withdraw orders on landing page on TV channels issue

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has assured Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) of withdrawing its November 2017 order of banning the use of the landing page for any other activity other than promotion of a distribution platform. TRAI has assured to take back the order within two weeks and the issue will be discussed with the stakeholders without any further move on the matter.

The Landing page carries paid ads of a TV Channel programs or messages that lead to sizeable revenue for distribution platforms.  

The order was countered by various broadcasters and MSOs as they believed that appropriate process wasn’t followed by TRAI before issuing the directive. The directive had come in the wake of a group of broadcasters alleging another broadcaster of manipulating the audience rating by using the boot up page.

TRAI had already informed TDSAT of a consultation paper issued by them in April 2018 to discuss the issue with the stakeholders. TDSAT had also pointed that once TRAI withdraws its order; all the petitions from the broadcasters become unprofitable.

The next date for hearing is 7 May 2018.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) gave a separate order in April 2018 to BARC India to refrain from using landing page data from any channel to be included in their audience data.

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