Trai directs all broadcasters and DTH operators to list channel genres

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Friday directed all broadcasters to declare the genre of each channel they offer to the cable and DTH platforms.

“Every broadcaster shall declare the genre of its channels and such genre shall be either Devotional or General Entertainment or Infotainment or Kids or Movies or Music or News and Current Affairs or Sports or Miscellaneous,” the telecom regulator said in a statement.

Further, Trai said, “If a broadcaster changes the genre of a channel, then the channel number assigned to that particular television channel shall be changed to place such channel together with the channels of the new genre in the electronic program guide.”

The step has been taken by Trai following complaints alleging transmission of television channels on dual local channel numbers (LCN) or placement of television channels by the distributors of TV channels, out of the genre declared by the broadcaster, the regulator said.