DTH

Everything about new TRAI rules for DTH

Update on 3rd February 2019If you will not opt for the new TRAI plans then your operator may activate any plan which is the closest to your existing pack.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued new regulations which are applicable to all DTH/Cable/IPTV operators effective from 29th December 2018. Till now operators (Tata Sky. Dish TV etc) used to decide to the price of individual channel, base package, and regional packs, but effective 29th December broadcasters (Star India, Sony etc) will decide the price of their packs. TRAI has also published the MRP of all channels in case customer want to choose individual channel instead of a bundled pack. TRAI pricing for an individual channel is much cheaper than operators used to offer as a-la-carte packs.

Few highlights of new TRAI rules are listed below.
1. Customer needs to pay  Rs.130 (+GST=Rs.153)/month as Network Capacity Fee to watch 100  (Free or Paid) channels in which all Doordarshan channels(Total -25) are compulsory to subscribe. You can choose the remaining channels of your choice and if you want to opt for paid channels (Star Plus, Zee TV etc) extra charges as per as TRAI pricing will be applicable.

Star Value Pack
Star Value Pack

2. If your channel count exceeds 100, you need to pay extra Rs.20 (+GST=Rs.24) as Network Capacity Fee for every 25 channels.
3. 1 HD channels will be counted as 2 channels and 1 SD channel will be counted as 1 channel.
4. DD Free Dish users will not be affected by this rule they can continue to enjoy available channels for free.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I choose the channels which I want to watch?

You can choose your channels by calling customer care of your operator or visiting the website or using the app. Option as per as new rules will be available soon.

What will happen to my existing subscribed pack?

If you have already recharged for any long-term pack then the operator can refund your money in form of balance or they can adjust it with new packs, confirmation for same will be shared by your operator via SMS.

Is it going to end of the base packs, regional packs?

Yes, all existing packs which used to be decided by operators are going to end but packages based plans which are now decided by broadcaster and combo packs by operators will be still available.

If you have more doubts, please ask in the comment section.

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57 Comments

  1. I had taken Reliance Big Tv plan with 1 year subscription on 5th January 2019.
    Now they are removing lots of channels like star gold, star plus, Discovery, Star plus etc and saying that according to new TRAI schemes i have to pay extra for these channels.
    Is this right?

  2. Can I select the channels of my choices if I am using DD free dish, without buying the full Star Value Pack Can I just include Star Bharat channel and exclude some of the channels from DD free dish which I am not using. ???

  3. videocon castmar care very very bed sarvice i am 50time call but not a Responce my pack silect wich promblem for castmar care i am not Happy for videocon castmar care and videocon d2h sarvice

  4. Sir,
    I am D2h subscriber. Earlier, say on 18-1-2019, there was option in their website under Create your own pack, to pick up FTA channels of our choice within first 100 channels and add any paid SD/HD channels and also bouquets of Broadcasters while preparing our own pack. Accordingly, I prepared my own pack on 18-1-2019 in their website and registered it. But, on the date of implementation on 1-2-2019, I did not get either my old package or the new pack I prepared. Some of the channels that were available were missing and many unwanted channels were also aired. Same is continuing till today. My repeated complaints to customer care via phone or email has not resolved my problem. Today, when I contacted customer care over phone, they informed me a new thing that TRAI has modified the rules of NCF. As per amended rules 185 channels that are being given are mandatory within NCF of Rs.130/- plus tax. The channels that are added after 185 are counted for additional NCF. They say, this TRAI rule has come somewhere during first of February 2019. I am not aware of this new rule. Please enlighten me is it true that TRAI has amended the rules and has made 185 channels of all languages mandatory.

    1. My freiend,
      i am also d2h [videocon] user.
      Go to d2h log in page ‘My log in’ & get signed in.
      then go for ‘make my pack’ option [ now their d2h websites seems to be working OK] & select the channels you want to see.
      you will get charge Rs 153 for FREE TO AIR [FTA] channels as per TRAI rule + as per your channel selection [ each channel price can b seen]; also you can checked list of channels & amount you have to paid before submitting & you can modify them in ‘MODIFY MY SELECTION’ option.
      IF STILL problem arise contact d2h customer care on 9115691156 or through email.

      1. Hi Swapnil,
        You are right there is option in D2h website for ‘make my pack’. That option works only to add beyond 100 FTA channels they have already filled in that box. There is no option to modify 100 FTA channels they have already listed in make my pack and they say these 100 FTA channels in the Base Pack of 153 are mandatory, which I do not agree.

      2. I am viewing Chanels through cable operator GTPL. He is Charing Rs.174/- as a base price for all free Chanel’s.{154+20=174} . He says that free Chanel’s are more than 100.
        My query is: Do we have choice to select free channels other than 25 compulsory chanels. Pl clarify.

  5. How can I select the 10 channels. If DD is compulsory 25 channels, then I still have 75 channels to choose from for the package of Rs130. So which are the channels I can choose. I have checked but all channel have individual price. Also Republic TV is suppose to be a free channel, why is it being charged.

    1. Hi,
      Many broadcasters have converted free channels into paid after new TRAI rules. That’s why there is a charge for many existing free channels.

  6. As per your direction in base pack of100 channels 25 National channels are compulsory. Remaining 75 channels we have to choose, either free channels or paid channels. In case we are choosing 4 paid channels say Rs. 19/- each and remaining free. Pl. Inform whether paid channels price will include in base pack of Rs.130/-or not, if total amount is not exceeding Rs. 130 excluding GST.

  7. Agar hum cableoperators costumers ki demand per zee colours sony teeno ko de tho hunne per month 300se bhi zyada dena padeka jo woh lok nahi denge aur dth tho sambal lenge magara hum jaise log jeenki zindagi iss cable psr chalthi hunki zindahi ko barnad karke rakrahe ho
    Isli le bahut sare cableoperators suicide kar ne ke liye majboor ho jaathe hai
    Aapki iss decision ke wajah se lakh parivaar sadak par ajayenge.

  8. Great information regarding the structure if TRAI rules. Helps a lot in understanding the tariff plans. Thank you for sharing.

  9. I am videocon d2h user from Meghalaya State, North East. I can understand only English and little Hindi. Help me choose for these first 100 channels and will decide my add-on channels later. Besides, I have just recharged my new diamond pack on 26/01/19, what will happen after new channels have been choosed by me as per TRAI deadline 31/01

  10. Sir,
    My DTH service provider Videocon D2h has rolled out the system whereby I have selected by own channels and bouquets.
    However, it is seen that for the HD bouquets of the broadcaster I have chosen, though the bouquet consisted 4-5 HD channels and remaining SD channels out of 10-15 total channels, the service provider has treated all the channels as HD and has multiplied the number of channels by two. Thereby for the five HD bouquets having total 59 channels, the service provider has taken the number of channels as 118 treating all 59 channels as HD though hardly 25 channels were HD and remaining 34 channels SD.
    Is it right to taken all the channels of bouquests as HD when almost half of them are SD.
    Please enlighten me.

    1. No, Service providers can’t treat all channels as HD and count them as 2 channels. Their system is new it may be a bug. Please share your issue with customer care of your service provider.

  11. Sir. .I want to recharge my dish tv..I’m staying in UAE. ..N don’t know how to recharge n from where I have to recharge. ..which pack is good …We want all serial channels ..news.. English movies ..hindi movies. ..plz let me guide which pack I have to choose. ..N how can I recharge. ..from where. ..plz guide me. ….from here recharge is too costly so want to recharge from India. ..plz plz sir guide me. ..I don’t know much about all these recharge information …my dish t.v balance is already finished. ..plz reply soon

    1. Hi,
      You can recharge from our portal, please visit https://pay.plansinfo.com/dth.php.
      We recommend you to please recharge with amounts like Rs.200 or Rs.300. Your current pack will continue after recharge. Once Dish TV fully implement TRAI rules your pricing and packs will be adjusted.

  12. there r many useful free to air channels which we can select within 100 free channels. with 150/- our problem is solved.

  13. Hi,
    Currently service providers are not providing facilities to choose own channel as per as TRAI. Please wait for some time they have plan to roll out this service soon.

  14. Sir,’
    I am subscriber of Videocon D2h service. When I contacted the service provider for opting my own FTA channels and other paid
    channels/bouquets as per TRAI rules, they are insisting me to opt their Basic Service Tier and then add other channels of my choice.
    They say I cannot change the Basic Service Tier nor I have the freedom to choose FTA channels of my choice within the 100 channel base pack.
    Please enlighten me whether the subscriber has to mandatorily opt for the Basic Service Tier provided by the service provider.
    Whom to complain and get redressal of my problem

  15. Sir as per new announcement by TRAI,we have complete freedom to choose 100 channels so if I choose 40 FTA channels, A bouquet of 12 channels for rs. 69,another bouquet of 20 Channels for rs.75,two bouquets of 5 channels each for rs.15,A fifth bouquet of 10 channels for rs.30. What would be the price of my package according to new trai rules.

    1. 1.Total channels =92 so Network Capacity Fee =Rs.130
      2.Cost on Paid channels = 69+75+30+30= Rs.204
      Total = Rs.334
      After adding 18% GST= Rs.394

  16. “You can choose your channels by calling customer care of your operator or visiting the website ” what is the webpage. You also indicated that this will be available soon. how soon? I want to select small number of channels and do not mind paying minimum rupee amount.

    why give me DD bhojpuri (I am Tamilian and do not know even Hindi.

    1. Hi,
      List of the website –
      Tata Sky- https://www.mytatasky.com/web/portal
      D2H – https://www.d2h.com/login.php
      Dish TV – https://www.dishtv.in/Pages/RegisterUser.aspx
      Sun Direct – https://my.sundirect.in/Login
      Airtel – https://www.airtel.in/s/selfcare?normalLogin
      You can select any number of the channel even less than 100 but you have to the minimum fee. As per as TRAI guidelines operators need to shift all users before 1st February 2019, we are not sure when all operators will provide these option through their website.

  17. How does the prices of these channels even matter, I mean if we can choose upto 100 channels @ the price of Rs.153 then can I choose 34(compulsory Doordarshan channels) + 66(costliest channels) as my list ?

    1. Hi,
      Rs.153 is the minimum cost in case you choose all Free To Air Channels, for paid channels like Sony, Zee Tv, Star Sports 1 etc, you have to pay based on their price.

  18. You better stop viewing tv.upto now you have enjoyed 520 channels including 80hd channels in cable TV for 250 to 300 RS.now you have to pay as per trai directions nothing is free.this rate is for all formats like DTH.cable.ipth.ott or any format.

  19. i am Videocon d2h user, after 29 Dec 2018 d2h company provided new FTA [free to air]channels & individual channel list with price for a couple of days after that nothing mentioned in official web like how to choose individual channels , list of channels etc.
    videocon d2h web still shows old tarrif prices in a-la-carte packs .

    before its merger with Zee’s DISH TV its service was way better but now its gone below par average.

    During Videocon company web-services like pack changes, regarge facility/updatationcan b done through directly but after DISH Tv take over each action has to approved by calling customer care like pack change etc & also their customer service is pathetic
    for ex. My native place has also videocon d2h connection which i used to recharge timely still it show my balance zero/recharge is not done so each time i have to call pathetic customer care to switch it on.

  20. Sir, In continuation of my earlier comment, I would like to know the first 100 channels for Rs.130 will include, say if I pick up 80 free channels and remaining 20 paid channels that are not in the packs notified by broadcasters, and I need not pay more than Rs.130/- for these 100 channels.

    1. Hi,
      You need to pay extra for paid channels.
      With reference to your first comment, charges will be calculated as-
      1. 70 FTA channels – Rs.130 [Total channles=70]
      2. 10 SD Paid channels – Rs.30 (let) [Total channles=80]
      3. 24 SD Paid channels – Rs.40 (let) + Rs.20 as the number of channels crossed 100. [Total channles=104]
      4. 30 HD Paid channels – Rs.100(let) + Rs.20×2 as the number of channels crossed 125 and 150 [Total channels=164 ] (1HD channel=2 Channels)
      Total= 130+30+40+20+100+20×2= 360*
      *GST as applicable.

      1. Sir. .I want to recharge my dish tv..I’m staying in UAE. ..N don’t know how to recharge n from where I have to recharge. ..which pack is good …We want all serial channels ..news.. English movies ..hindi movies. ..plz let me guide which pack I have to choose. ..N how can I recharge. ..from where. ..plz guide me. ….from here recharge is too costly so want to recharge from India. ..plz plz sir guide me. ..I don’t know much about all these recharge information …my dish t.v balance is already finished. ..plz reply soon

  21. Sir, If I pick up say about 70 FTA channels of my choice and then opt for packs notified by broadcasters, e.g. pack of 10 sd channels, another pack of 24 sd channels and then pack of 30 HD channels totalling 134 channels in all. How the pricing will be applied? Please explain me.

  22. This 130 per month for 100 channels that i don’t even watch is shit. If trai’s plan is to make the customers pay for what they watch then let the customers decide how many channels they want. Their study showed that people don’t watch more than 30 channels then why are they forcing 100 channels for 130rs? And why are doordarshan channels included in these 100 they shd b given separately free of cost. 50 placeholding channels for rs 65 per month is better than 100 for 130.

    1. Yes only all languages DD channels r free.with any pack.no one needs DD free channels .local.rwgional languages must be charged with minimum rates and other languages entertainment channels must me charged as per choice n selected channels.

  23. This 130 per month for 100 channels that i don’t even watch is shit. If trai’s plan is to make the customers pay for what they watch then let the customers decide how many channels they want. Their study showed that people don’t watch more than 30 channels then why are they forcing 100 channels for 130rs? And why are doordarshan channels included in these 100 they shd b given separately free of cost. 50 placeholding channels for rs 65 per month is better than 100 for 130. Don’t you think?

    1. You better stop viewing tv.upto now you have enjoyed 520 channels including 80hd channels in cable TV for 250 to 300 RS.now you have to pay as per trai directions nothing is free.this rate is for all formats like DTH.cable.ipth.ott or any format.

      1. out of 520 how many u have watched atleast once in a month. Hardly 30 channels u watch i/c ur family, then u r wasting rs 300/- .. u will get those 30 channels at less 250/-

        cheer up baby

  24. If i did not opt for a plan as per new rule 29th December… Will my service will be closed??? and Can i change it after 29th December 2018??

    1. Hi,
      You have time till 31st January 2019 to choose channels till then you can enjoy channels as per as your current plan.

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