IPL 2023 Live Broadcast: Broadcasters vs Cable operators STANDOFF continues, 40 million fans set to lose out on IPL 2023, Check OUT

IPL 2023 Live Broadcast: New Tariff Order 3.0 – TRAI’s new tariff order 3.0 has cable operators fuming. However, despite repeated petitions, the standoff between broadcasters and cable operators continues over a tariff hike. As a result, not only Border Gavaskar Trophy but nearly 40 million households will miss out on IPL Live Broadcast as broadcasters have stopped providing feed to most cable operators barring Siti Cable. It should be noted that Star Sports holds the broadcasting rights of Indian Premier League while Viacom18 holds WPL 2023 Broadcasting rights. Follow Indian Premier League LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.

The tussle between the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) and broadcasters is going on ever since the TRAI implemented new tariffs for TV channels. The AIDCF has opposed to the 10-25% tariff hike on the bouquet or individual channels. As distribution platform operators (DPOs) refuse to sign the agreement, the broadcasters like Zee, Disney Star India and Sony have turned off feed.

“Dear consumers, the broadcaster has made a steep increase in the prices pursuant to the new tariff order by TRAI. Please note that Broadcaster may switch off the channel from our platform as we have decided to protect the interest of the consumers against any hike in channel prices. Request your cooperation,” Hathway ran a warning on its Star Sports feed.

IPL 2023 Live Broadcast: Broadcasters vs Cable operators STANDOFF continues, 40 million fans set to lose out on IPL 2023, Check OUT

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What is New Tariff Order 3.0? – As per the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the new regulation (NTO 3.0) is an agreement between broadcasters and AIDCF on price hikes of television channels or channel bouquets. The prescribed fee hike per channel is anywhere between 10 to 25%. The regulation was scheduled for implementation on Feb 1.

However, despite failing to sign on the dotted lines on the deadline, broadcasters continued to provide feed. However, Zee has now refused. Disney Star and Sony too have fallen suit.

Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) which represents the broadcasters and digital streaming platforms said in a statement that the price increase is only 5% after 4 years.

“Broadcasters had taken a price increase after 4 years post the release of new NTO guidelines by TRAI. Most DTH and Cable operators, whose base adds up to 80% of India’s PayTV customers, have already started implementing the new prices and they have had to increase consumer prices by approx 5 per cent after 4 years,” IBDF Secretary-General Siddharth Jain said in a statement.

What is the fuss all about?

Cable TV operators consider the price hike steep and have refused to sign the agreement.
So far, only Siti Cable has signed the agreement.
Cable TV operators are against the price hike and say the 10-25% hike is too steep.
As AIDCF fights the matter in court, the broadcasters have switched off the feed to most of the cable TV operators.
Both Kerala and Karnataka High Court have refused to stay the amendment and posted the hearing for February 22.
As a result, around 40 million households are not able to watch India vs Australia match.
If the standoff continues, they will also not be able to watch Women’s Premier League and IPL 2023.

“Disney-Star, Sony and Zee have disconnected services of their channels on the members of AIDCF as well as other cable TV platforms. These cable TV platforms have not executed the revised RIOs with these broadcasters as a mark of protest against the unreasonable pricing by the broadcasters,” AIDCF said in a statement.

How can it impact IPL 2023 and WPL 2023?

Disney Star holds the broadcasting rights of IPL.
Viacom18 holds the rights to WPL broadcast.
As Star has already switched off feed, cable TV users won’t be able to watch IPL 2023 if they don’t sign the agreement or if TRAI doesn’t amend TPO 3.0.
As for Viacom18, it has not turned off feed yet.
However, Reliance-owned Viacom18’s sister organisation Hathway Cable is also among the cable TV operators to protest the price hike.
Hence, it will be interesting to see whether Viacom18 switches off the feed.
In the meantime, cable TV users have to switch to either streaming platforms or DTH to watch Border Gavaskar Trophy, WPL and IPL.

IPL 2023 Live Broadcast: Broadcasters vs Cable operators STANDOFF continues, 40 million fans set to lose out on IPL 2023, Check OUT

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