I think broadcaster has right to launch new channels......just like we have right to view channels that we like..........
I think new channel addition on DTH depends on net carriage fee. So if broadcaster is ready to
pay carriage fee & DTH has space then addition happens.
Now the question is - Is it required to hike pack price twice a year on the pretext of channel addition......? I mean we all have been convinced that channel addition should bring hike in pack price. So the question is how much truth this argument holds......?
Now every broadcaster has right to launch channels & (to use carriage fee or arm-twisting) to get these channels added onto DTH, there has to be regulation to govern channels as govt cann't bar a broadcaster from launching new channels.
So we can have a system which would control channel addition indirectly & promote only channel addition which is genuine & also required by people.
Now broadcaster finds it lucrative to launch new channels as there is ambiguity about ad-cap & at the same time broadcaster is free to make more money by categorizing the channel as pay channel. So from both side he is making money.........
So its better to have tight regulation to clasify a channel as FTA or pay channel where FTA channel would be free to make money from ads at the same time pay channels should be ad-free.
Ofcourse this will be fully possible when digitization is complete but I don't think govt / Trai is doing enough to regulate the industry so that quality channels are encouraged & at the same time total channel numbers remain in control, which happens in many develpoed TV markets in the world.
Now its upto govt how it wants to regulate the industry...........Now we have a MIB minister who clearly contradicts to his predecessor about ad-cap........This is not the way govt should run & frame policies as per ones own whims........Lets hope that MODI acts..........