Broadcast sector tribunal Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) on Tuesday refused to grant a stay on an appeal challenging sectoral regulator Trai?s directive to broadcasters to share signals with multi system operators on a pick-and-choose basis.
Major broadcasters, including Star India, Zee Turner, Set and Sun TV, have challenged Trai?s notification dated October 4 last year directing them to provide signals to multi-system operators (MSO) on a la carte basis. In the petition, they had also challenged the price fixed by the regulator and termed it as ?arbitrary and discriminatory?. TDSAT has already rejected this.
TDSAT, which was hearing motions filed by Star India and Zee Turner, while overruling their objections, stated that the regulation is perfectly in the public interest and also in the interest of the policy. TDSAT chairman Arun Kumar directed the four broadcasters to complete their arguments, and said any decision would be taken only after it is done.
TDSAT also refused to entertain a demand that MSOs should provide names and addresses of their subscribers. The broadcasters had earlier demanded that MSOs need to give the names and addresses of all local cable operators.