TRAI Framework Boosts DPO Control, Distorts TV Economics: Esya Report

• India's broadcasting framework strengthens Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs), distorting consumer pricing and content economics, according to an Esya Centre report.
• DPOs act as central gatekeepers, controlling consumer access, channel visibility, and revenue distribution due to their control over last-mile delivery and billing.
• The Network Capacity Fee (NCF) is a major point of consumer dissatisfaction, with 94% viewing it as unfair and 84.7% dissatisfied with paying it for free-to-air channels.
• Regulatory restrictions on bundling contradict consumer preference, as 96% prefer bundled offerings for better value and convenience.
• Revenue-sharing rules allow DPOs to capture up to 80% of average revenue per user, despite broadcasters bearing higher content creation costs.