Spoon Feeding To TRAI

TRAI does NOT seem to be sure about the method which needs to be implemented for TV Channel selection by the viewers, and therefore has been trying to aim in dark with no target at all.

Here is some spoon feeding :

Every Service Provider MUST give following options to all it’s members, from where they can choose the channels :

To start with should be the selection of Free Channels. For this, the procedure used by the service providers under “Guide” can be used. It means that the viewer can select the Free channels available under :

- Entertainment
- Movies
- Sports
- News
- Kids
- Knowledge
- Lifestyle
- Special
- Others

A list of all channels in each category should be provided with a box to be ticked by the viewer, for selection. If 100 Free channels are allowed, then the viewer should be warned if the number exceeds 100, so that he/she can deselect some channels, to select some others from the rest available channels.

Once the Free Channels are selected, the next step is to select the paid channels, for which again a selection table should be provided under each of the above, with additional selection for Regional languages, with cost of each channel along with the multi-channel pack available for that channel.

Each time the viewer checks the box in front of a channel or a pack of channel, the rate for that channel or the channel pack should get added to the total price applicable appearing at the bottom of that page.

When all the selection is complete, the viewer has chosen exactly the channels and channel packs of one’s own choice, and also knows the exact price for which the total selected channels are available.

Viewer then can deselect/select some channels or channel packs to arrive at the price suitable to be paid for those channels.

Once all the selection is completed, then the summary MUST appear on the screen, where the viewer can give a confirmation.

And once the confirmation is given, an OTP could be sent by the service provider to the registered mobile number of the customer, which the viewer needs to enter to complete the selection process.

Service provider must send an email to the registered email address of the viewer, giving the details of the channels and channel packs selected by the viewer and the price the viewer needs to pay for the same.

And after the viewer receives such an email, it is a proof that the viewer as well as the service provider are in agreement with each other for the availability of those channels to the viewer at the agreed price.

Then the viewer can make the payment through available payment facility.

I do NOT understand, why such small programs cannot be written and made available at the website by all the service providers. Why is TRAI required to advise the viewer to sit in front of TV, not down names of all channels, decide the channels one wishes to view, etc, etc.

I sincerely hope that TRAI gives a serious thought to the details specified above, by me. more