Jio’s move to provide India vs Sri Lanka live content free of cost on OTT unfair, say cable TV operators

The All Local Cable Operator Association Delhi (ALCOA India), the representative body of Local Cable Operators (LCOs / LMOs), has written to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) expressing concerns over Jio TV's provision of linear and live content on its OTT platform. The association argues that this practice is causing significant losses to the Indian cable TV industry, impacting businesses and jobs.

"This is to bring to your kind attention that how JIO TV is providing Linear and Live content (which is regularised by TRAI) on its OTT Platform and due to this the Cable TV Industry of INDIA is suffering very huge losses in terms of business and jobs," ALCOA said in the letter.

According to ALCOA India, the number of households in India with televisions increased from 197 million in 2018 to 210 million in 2020. However, the share of households availing cable TV services has dropped from 120 million in 2018 to 90 million in 2020, with further declines reported. The association attributes this trend to the rise of OTT platforms like JioTV offering linear content, such as the India vs Sri Lanka T20 and ODI series, which traditionally fall under the purview of cable and satellite TV regulations.

ALCOA India said it has previously raised the issue with TRAI and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), but officials have responded that OTT platforms are not regulated under current frameworks. The association is advocating for new regulations that would prevent broadcasters from providing linear content, which requires uplinking and downlinking permissions under the Cable Act 1995, to OTT platforms. They argue that these permissions are specifically granted for distribution through MSOs, HITS, DTH, and IPTV players, and extending them to OTT platforms like JioTV and Disney+ Hotstar is both illegal and unfair competition.

The association highlighted that cable operators pay a fee of Rs 19 plus GST for channels like Ten Sports to broadcast events such as the India vs Sri Lanka series, while JioTV offers the same content for free. This disparity, they argue, is driving viewers away from traditional cable TV services, particularly among housewives, students, and younger audiences, who find OTT platforms a more attractive option.

ALCOA India has also raised concerns about the negative social impact of unregulated content on OTT platforms and the potential bypassing of traditional broadcasting regulations. They have previously filed a complaint regarding the unauthorized streaming of TATA IPL on Jio Cinema but have not received a response from TRAI, MIB, or the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

The association urges TRAI to take strict action against broadcasters providing linear content to OTT platforms, emphasizing the need for regulatory oversight to protect the cable TV industry.