[icernet] Broadcasters Trying To Bundle Pay Channels At Lower Prices

[Arul Selvan]

A genre-wise pricing of channels is unlikely even as broadcasters are trying
to work out a penetrative rate structure to drive consumers to buy set-top
boxes. The genre-wise bundling will involve an agreement among broadcasters
on how much each should get, something which they have not been able to
agree upon. News channels will stay free-to-air. Star India chief executive
officer Peter Mukerjea indicated that Star News would be free-to-air while
other channels would be pay. The two NDTV news channels, which are
distributed by Sony-Discovery’s One Alliance without any extra cost to the
bouquet, will also be available as free channels. Broadcasters believe the
tiering of channel services will not be possible in the initial stages.
Instead, they are working out plans on how to put the bundle of pay channels
at a lower price to drive penetration.

Source:
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=36440