New Cable TV, DTH Plans: Upto 69% Discount On Airtel; Dish TV, Siti, Den, Hathway Reveal New Packs

Although deadline for implementing the new Cable TV rules and regulations has been extended by a month, cable operators and DTH firms have now started updating their plans and packs to comply with the regulations.

As per our initial observation, discounts upto 69% has been offered by leading DTH companies such as Airtel, Dish TV and others.

New Packs By Cable Operators: TRAI’s Scoldings

As per TRAI’s notification of July, all cable operators and DTH companies were required to share their new and updated price plans by December 29th.

However, when none of these entities cared to update the plans, TRAI had to issue a stern press release, which literally scolded them for not complying with their rules.

TRAI ordered them to immediately share the updated plans, as it said on Friday: “Accordingly, distribution platform operators (cable & DTH companies) shall declare the Distributor Retail Price (DRP) and Network Capacity Fee (NCF) as per the time lines given in TRAI press release dated 3rd July 2018 i.e. by 29th December 2018.”

After this press release, these companies (cable operators, DTH firms) started uploading the new packs for their consumers.

Here is an overview:

Airtel Digital: Upto 69% Discount

Earlier, Airtel Digital offered niche channels such as Star Sports, Ten Sports etc for Rs 65 per month, for an individual channel.

Now, after TRAI’s new cable TV rules, they have reduced the price by 69%. Now, the highest price of any channel on Airtel Digital is Rs 22.42, which includes taxes.

However, there has been no discount on the price which is offered by the broadcasters – Airtel is simply passing that over to the consumer, with taxes.

Here is an overview of the updated packs:

More detailed information is available on their website.

Dish TV: Special Packs Available Starting From Rs 12

DishTV too has revealed their updated plans which complies with the new TRAI Rules.

For Sony TV, they have 27 packs, starting from Rs 12; 50 packs for TV18, starting from Rs 8; 24 packs from Zee and more. There is separate packs for North and South India as well.

Overall, the combined packs are indeed cheaper than their earlier bouquets of channels, as now, consumers will have more power to choose what they want to watch.

Here are complete details about DishTV packs.

Hathaway Packs: Maximum Rs 400 Per Month

Hathaway, which has been acquired by Reliance has also shared the updated packs and plans, which comply with TRAI’s regulations.

While Rs 130 plus GST will allow the consumers to access all FTA channels, pay channel packs have been designed between Rs 270 to Rs 400, covering various niches.

These channels are part of their FTA pack: Republic TV, NewsX, Aaj Tak, DW TV, India TV, ABP News, India News, Sangeet Bangla and FTV.

Here are all the packs available under Hathway.

Siti Cable and Den have also updated their latest plans.

Only Tata Sky and Sun Direct have failed to reveal their new plans and packs.

We will keep you updated, as we receive more details.