Kathmandu, July 14
Indian TV channel broadcasters have expressed their reluctance to support implementing the ‘A’ La Carte’ system in Nepal.
The government of Nepal had brought a consumer-friendly regulation through which they could pay for Indian TV channels individually within a bundle. But there seems to be resistance from Indian TV channels in complying with this requirement.
The providers of popular channels such as Sony, Zee, Discovery, Star, Colors, HBO, and others have not submitted the details of their packages, including the prices and individual channel rates.
Despite the presence of representatives for these channels in Nepal who sell packages to local television service distributors, they have not complied with the government’s requirement to provide information on the packages and their pricing structure.
This means the government’s plan to implement an A’ La Carte system from the new fiscal year is in limbo.
The government had planned for an A La Carte system through which the consumers were able to pay individually for channels. Currently, service providers are taking a lump sum and providing all channels.
According to the government, the minimum fee for the basic package, including taxes, is set at Rs 250 per month. This package will include free to Nepali and foreign channels including news, edutainment, infotainment, entertainment and sports.
The government has also set the maximum price of each bouquet channel at Rs 40, including taxes. A bouquet of channels means a collection of different channels offered together or as a group or as a bundle.
The government has also said the maximum the service providers can charge is Rs 500 per month for both the basic package and the bundle.
Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation, the umbrella organisation of Indian TV channels, has written to the Department of Information and Broadcasting and informed them that it is not acceptable or practical to set different rates for channels. However, the department says it is the consumers’ right to choose the channels they want to watch.
The difference in opinion between the Nepali government and Indian channel providers regarding the pricing and broadcasting regulations can potentially result in the disruption of Indian channel availability for the Nepali audience.
