Disney Star receives a major relief as the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has given their verdict on their behalf. The ongoing ICC World Cup will continue to be streamed free at Disney+Hotstar. Earlier, All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) had appealed to stop the free streaming of the World Cup.
The TDSAT came to the conclusion that services of the OTT platform don’t fall under the TRAI Act and therefore ruled the verdict in favour of the official broadcaster of the ICC World Cup.
“Prima facie, the OTT platform is not a TV channel, nor is the respondent requiring any permission or a license from the Central Government. Moreover, looking at the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the rules framed thereunder for the year 2021, and looking at the provisions of the TRAI Act, 1997, there is no prima facie case with this petitioner,” according to TDSAT judgment.
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This however is not the end of the matter. The next hearing is slated to take place on the 18th of December. The incident began when Disney Star announced that the World Cup would be available for free for fans only on the Disney+Hotstar app on mobile. For other viewers who are accessing the website, normal subscription charges will be levied.
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Following the conclusion of the Asia Cup where DisneyStar followed the same tactic, the All India Digital Cable Federation launched their complaint to TDSAT. The main purpose of the complaint was not to discriminate between the customers and the subscribers. While those availing of the app get free access to World Cup matches while others don’t.
As per the norm, it goes against the regulation if a particular content is charged for broadcast and the same is allowed for free in Streaming platforms. But TDSAT in it’s ruling claimed that there is current prima facie with the petitioner and therefore ruled in favor of Disney Star.
