Star offers uniform pricing for cable platforms

Introduces revised Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) for one year with digital platforms in Phase 1 and Phase 2 markets

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Mumbai | October 28, 2014

The Star Network has announced a new consumer initiative for Consumer and Distribution platforms. In an industry first, Star has introduced a new tariff structure with cable platforms based on uniform pricing instead of bilaterally negotiated deals. This initiative will result in transparency.

The Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) for Digital Addressable Systems will be the basis of all its dealings with distribution platforms all over India across the DAS Phase 1 and Phase 2 markets.

Uday Shankar

Uday Shankar, CEO of Star India, said, "This new initiative is aimed at empowering consumers with greater choice, and platforms with the ability to customize their offerings as per the needs of their viewers. Crucially, this initiative will usher in a new era of transparency in the domain as it will provide a clear and transparent way for the broadcaster to work with the operator community, thereby improving the health of the entire digital eco system."

The RIO will be in force for one year with digital platforms in Phase 1 and Phase 2 markets. The channels are all offered on a basis that allows the platform payouts to vary as per their choice of content and incentives. The incentive would be based on the number of Star channels carried, the number of viewers and the ease of access to these channels.

Platforms that still opt out of the revised RIO will have the option to choose and take channels as per the original list price.

The initiative stems from the desire to have a transparent system that offers better choices for consumers and to rid the industry of the broadcaster-platform disagreements that have riddled it in the past.

Shankar said, "Star's focus has always been to put consumer interests first and foremost, without hurting the viability of either the broadcaster or the platforms. We believe our new initiative will provide the required fillip to moving to a true Digital Ecosystem in Phase 1 and Phase 2 markets."

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

Info@BestMediaInfo.com