Before making any modifications in price or composition of the consumer’s subscription package, the providers of Direct-to-home (DTH) service have to give prior notice of fifteen days to their subscribers.

The decision is a part of amended Quality of Services (QoS) standards and redressal of complaints regulations for DTH, which TRAI, telecom and broadcast regulator, announced on Thursday.
 
The amended rules also prohibited DTH operators from charging any fee towards visiting charges or repair and maintenance of equipment that has been bought by a consumer, during the period of warranty.

However, the rule will not be applicable if the DTH consumer who has rented the equipment from the provider on a nominal charge on a monthly basis.

In a statement, TRAI said, “The service provider also cannot remove a channel in DTH viewers’ subscription packages during the first six months of enrolment or during the period of validity of a prepaid subscription package, whichever is longer.”

Another rule set by TRAI states that in case a DTH player removes a channel from a subscription package, it is important for service operator to lessen the price proportionally, or offer another with one of the same genre and language as a replacement for the channel removed.

TRAI also indicated that the consumer will decide whether to choose the package with reduced costs or the package with a replaced channel.

According to new rules, subscribers are allowed to request their DTH operator to suspend their services for up to 3 months. However, this suspension period should not comprise the same calendar month.

The majority of DTH service providers have been in a spat with other broadcasters over the charge at which the channels are offered to them.

Last year Tata Sky and ESPN Star Sports were fighting over their financial contract and Tata Sky blocked up ESPN from its basic package.