The Supreme Court has dismissed Star India's plea which challenges the Madras High Court’s order of upholding TRAI's new tariff reform, reported the New Indian Express.
The decision will be good news to consumers as the decision ensures that they will not have to pay for the channels they do not want to watch. New guidelines that were established in June mandate that broadcasting companies cannot mix free-to-air channels with pay channels in bouquets.
The decision comes as a blow to broadcasting networks like Star India, who have been bundling their poorly performing channels with high-performing and FTA channels, forcing consumers to end up buying a bouquet of channels they did not want to watch, to be able to watch a highly popular one.
Furthermore, the TRAI has also prescribed 31 August as a deadline for implementation. While major broadcasters have already complied with the TRAI order, Star India— India’s largest broadcast network decided to fight against the order in the High Court.
After Madras Madras High Court stalled Star India’s petition against TRAI's order in May, they sought the directions of the Supreme Court because of the tariff regulations issued by TRAI conflict with the Copyright Act, 1957.
However, the Supreme Court bench consisting of Justice Rohinton F Nariman and Justice Navin Sinha dismissed Star India’s petition.
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