National Cable & Telecommunications Association ® NCTA Eniail: mail@ncta.in Fax: 91-11-2692 2347 Website: www.ncta.in BY SPEED POST A.D To The Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Prime Minister's Office South Block, Rasina Hill New Delhi - 110011 Dated: 23" January 2015 Hon'ble Prime Minister Sir, Please find enclosed a copy of the News clip published on Indian Television. Com news portal posted on 22" Jan 2015. “Sony admit: Wvestigating its India operations” As the same will never be carried by any other news publications for the reason that this said company in question spends millions on advertising its products and events on these news publications. The enclosed article “Sony admits it is investigating its India operations “published, brings in a big question mark put on the state of the private Broadcasting affairs in the Country. With cases of fraudulent bids, kickback and excessive handouts to Government officials came to light in the investigation by a private audit co. E&Y Unfortunately these handouts of potential gifts and entertainment to the Government officials clearly relates to the officials on the Government of India duty posted at the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and also to the Government officials posted with TRAI “ Telecom Regulatory Authority of India” the industry regulator that has been also regulating the Broadcasting and Cable services. Hon'ble Sir, presently we see the same state of affairs as things have been in the past UPA Government rule. This is really unfortunate that the money been collected on account of Pay TV subscription from billions of cable TV and DTH consumers in the country is being siphoned by these Corporations and that is further handed over as bribes to the Government of India officials thse are entrusted with the task of protecting consumers interest and ensure a level playing field in the industry. This has been the reason, we now understand on why the Industry Regulator TRAI has not purposely implemented an advertisement Cap on these Pay TV channels while keeping the Ad. Cap limit the same for the Pay TV as well the FTA Broadcast TV channels. The price Cap for these pay TV channels “there are around 220 Pay TV channels today in the country with more to be launched soon” had been purposely left in forbearance and no MRP for these pay TV channels was ever fixed by the industry regulator TRA or the MIB which has facilitated billion of rupees being collected each month on account of Pay TV subscription fee from the Indian consumers where the estimated subscription fee being collected on account of these Page 1 of 2Pay TV channels is almost INR 5000 - 5500 Crores per Annum, apart of the advertising revenue collected of more than INR 17000 Crores per annum by these 220 Pay TV Broadcasters and their authorized channel aggregators. Hon’ble Sir, this Subscription fee on account of Pay TV channels collected from the Indian public is. being used for paying kickbacks and bribing the Government Officials. This calls for an immediate intervention and action of this responsible Government. Thanking you in anticipation of some stern action and policy formation for these long unattended issues that are continuously affecting billions of Indian consumers. For National Cable & Telecommunication Association idhu ikki Choudhry President Email: vikki@ncta.in Mobile # +91 98111 44467 Encl: News article as appeared on the portal indianTelevision. Com “ Sony admits it is investigating its India operations” NCTA Regd. Office: 19 CSC (DDA) Sukhdev Vihar, New Delhi - 1100 25 [INDIA] Page 2 of 2