AIDCF meets Ashwini Vaishnaw to talk long-term sustainability of cable TV

In a significant move aimed at strengthening the cable television distribution industry, representatives from the All-India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) met with Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, in New Delhi last week. 

The meeting provided an opportunity for AIDCF members to discuss key challenges impacting the sector.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the discussions centered around establishing a fair and equitable framework for the industry. 

The talks reportedly focused on tackling regulatory disparities and formulating strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability of cable TV in the face of ongoing digital transformation. 

According to sources, the AIDCF has asked the government to intervene in the matter pertaining to new RIOs announced by big networks seeking freedom to form their own bouquets. 

The AIDCF delegation included prominent figures such as SN Sharma, President of AIDCF and CEO of DEN Networks; Anirudhsinh Jadeja, MD & CEO of GTPL Hathway; Sanjay Goyal, CFO of Fastway Transmissions; Sankaranarayana Gopalan, Vice-Chairman of Asianet Satellite Communications; T Panesar, CEO of Hathway Cable & Datacom; and Lalit Sharma from SITI Networks.

The meeting was also attended by Sanjiv Shankar, Joint Secretary-Broadcasting at the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), who plays a key role in developing policy for the broadcast and cable sectors.

AIDCF has previously voiced concerns over what it describes as an uneven regulatory landscape, particularly when comparing Multi-System Operators (MSOs) and Local Cable Operators (LCOs) with Direct-to-Home (DTH) services — both paid and free — and Over-the-Top (OTT) streaming platforms. The federation has also raised issues regarding TRAI’s tariff framework, which it believes tends to favor broadcasters.

The issue of bundled channel packages has been a persistent point of contention for years, with broadcasters and Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) continuing to clash over how these packages are structured. Despite ongoing debates, no clear resolution has emerged, as both sides remain firm in their positions.

Recently, cable operators had once again approached the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) seeking intervention. 

The core of the dispute lies in the belief that consumers are being forced to subscribe to pre-made bundles that often include channels they have little interest in, all in the name of discounted prices. 

They argue that if broadcasters have the right to create bouquets, DPOs should have the flexibility to break them apart and offer more customized, consumer-friendly options.

The Ministry is currently engaged in a comprehensive revamp of longstanding and outdated regulations governing the broadcast industry, a process that will include updates to policies affecting cable TV distribution.

In a related development, a parliamentary committee recently urged the government to consider the formation of a unified regulatory authority to oversee print, broadcast, and digital media sectors, aiming to streamline governance across these rapidly evolving domains.