The few days of blackout of some popular entertainment and other TV channels of some broadcasters, which started February 18, despite contrary claims has impacted the ratings of TV channels.

If Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India data is to be believed, then the ratings of channels like Star Utsav, Star Gold, Sony Max and Zee Bollywood saw a downturn as the broadcasters had switched off their signals to some MSOs before an out-of-court truce was hammered out on Feb 23.

Three major broadcasters, Sony, Zee and Disney Star, had switched off their signals to some MSOs around February 18 for alleged non-compliance of regulator TRAI-mandated guidelines on tariff interconnect agreements.

TRAI’s amended tariff guidelines, notified in November 2022, was challenged by MSOs body AIDCF and another industry organisations representing cable operators of Kerala in in the Kerala High Court

STAR Utsav Movies, which earlier had ratings of 42 (‘000) registered ratings of  41after the TV blackout. Zee Anmol Cinema  got ratings of 35, while earlier it was 37. Sony Max had ratings of 36 earlier, but after the blackout, it registered ratings of 25.

AIDCF had claimed in its petition that under the 2020 regime, the price of the “driver” channel in a bouquet was capped at Rs 12, but under the latest tariff order it has been increased to Rs 19.

However, even the 2020 regime was not properly implemented till now by TRAI, it had alleged. The regulator had refuted the allegation, saying that the 2020 regulations and tariff order regarding TV channel pricing was not implemented as all stakeholders, including AIDCF, were of the view that it requires a re-look, a PTI report had stated earlier.

The telecom and broadcast regulator also claimed that AIDCF had consented to the price cap of Rs 19 per channel.

Though the court had refused to give interim relief to the petitioners, informal talks were held on February 23 between the MSOs and broadcasters to find a compromise formula so as not to inconvenience the consumers further.

According to industry sources, the Delhi talks between the warring factions resulted in some compromise formula whereby broadcasters (Sony, Zee and Disney Star) agreed to restore their respective TV channels’ signals to MSOs as part of a compromise formula.