In a letter to TRAI Chairman, All Local Cable Operator Association (ALCOA) of Delhi alleged Jio TV was violating regulations by broadcasting live and linear content on its OTT platform.
A Delhi-based cable operators body has moved the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), seeking the regulatory body to take action against Jio TV, claiming that the billionaire Mukesh Ambani-0wned OTT platform was negatively impacting their business, and is one of the reasons behind the job cuts and massive financial losses incurred by the cable TV industry.
In a letter to TRAI Chairman, All Local Cable Operator Association (ALCOA) of Delhi alleged Jio TV was violating regulations by broadcasting live and linear content on its OTT platform.
Citing the Cable Act of 1995, ALCOA said only Multi-System Operators (MSOs), Headend in the Sky (HITS) operators, Direct-to-Home (DTH) players, and IPTV providers should be allowed to air live content, but Jio TV was flouting these regulations by streaming linear content.
ALCOA highlighted that the number of Indian households who owned a television increased to 210 million in 2022 from 197 million in 2018, however, the number of homes using cable TV services decreased from 120 million in 2018 to 90 million in 2020, and the numbers have continued to decline.
The cable operators body noted that OTT platforms such as Disney + Hotstar and Jio TV air linear content, which is killing the cable TV industry as customers, especially housewives, students, and youngsters are lured away by OTTs which they find to be a better option.
The cable operators took issue due to Jio TV streaming the ongoing India vs Sri Lanka cricket matches for free on its OTT platform.
“Cable TV Industry is paying Rs.19/- + GST for Ten Sport’s Live Content namely India v/s Sri Lanka Series and JIO TV OTT is providing this for FREE to the consumer,” the cable operators said in the letter to TRAI.
“It is unfair competition and this will destroy the Indian Cable TV Industry. We want to know that how broadcaster is providing Linear LIVE content (India v/s Sri Lanka Series) to JIO TV. Is it through IRD or any other route. We hope that TRAI officials can get this information from broadcasters as they are regulated by TRAI,” they said.
“We will be awaiting your reply,” they added.
ALCOA also named STAR INDIA and INDIACAST in their letter, noting that they are also providing content available on their linear channels on their OTT platforms such as Disney+, Hotstar.
“INDIACAST is proving its Linear content which is running on Colors TV, MTV, etc; on its OTT platform JIO TV. All the Linear TV content is available on their OTT apps (before the TV, in some cases) which is illegal,” ALCOA said.