On October 10, telcos sought an urgent hearing of their curative petitions challenging certain specific portions of the 2019 judgment on Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR).
Chairperson Justice Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel and member Subodh Kumar Gupta observed that prima facie, OTT platforms are not covered by the definition of ‘distribution platform’ under regulation 2(r) of TRAI Regulations.
The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has allowed Disney Star to stream the ICC Cricket World Cup for free on their OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar. The All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) had requested the TDSAT to stop the free streaming, arguing that their customers also expect free access to live cricket. Disney Star will continue to stream the World Cup for free on mobile devices via the Disney+ Hotstar app.
Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant on Saturday underscored the need for setting up permanent benches of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) at different places of the country. He also emphasised that tribunals in the country are a necessity and are required to be strengthened.