SET distributor

New Delhi, Mar 11 (UNI) If you are among those who have "grand plans" of watching World Cup matches live while dining in the comfort of your nearby restaurant, pub, a Five Star hotel or while relaxing to a cup of coffee at a swanky coffee shop, then you could well be in for a huge disappointment! With almost 80 to 90 per cent of commercial establishments in Delhi, as also other parts of India, not having yet obtained license for telecast of the World Cup matches from SET Discovery Private limited and its authorized distributors Novex Communications Pvt Limited as per a recent notification by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, those hoping to enjoy the World Cup matches on the big screens at malls or cinema halls or TV sets at restaurants and coffee shops could have to contend themselves with watching the matches in the confines of their drawing rooms.

''It has been seen that various city restaurants and club/bars and hotels are taking and using the privilege of receiving and displaying of various live events and content on large LCD screen as a money churning package to get in more clientele. However, not all the restaurants, bars, pubs and hotels have taken the license from either the broadcaster or their authorized distributors Novex Communications Pvt Limited, as per a recent TRAi notification which makes it necessary for restaurants, pubs, bars and coffee shops with a capacity of over 50 people to obtain a license from the authorized distributors of the TV signals of a cricketing events in India,''Associate Director (Operations) of Novex Communications, Anurag Parmar told mediapersons here.

''So as per this notification, which also has three and five star hotels and restaurants under its purview after a recent Supreme Court ruling, any telecast of World Cup matches, being aired on SET max channel, at hotels, bars, restaurants, pubs, guest houses, cinema halls, public viewing areas, clubs and other commercial establishments without the mandatory license from SET Discovery Pvt Ltd and its authorised distributors Novex Communications Pvt Ltd is illegal and the violator is liable for punishment prescribed by the TRAI,'' Mr Parmar said a press meet here last evening.

Mr Parmar said SET Discovery Private Limited and its authorized distributors Novex Communications Pvt Ltd, who are the copyright owners of the respective channels forming part of "The One Alliance", had, through public notices and other communications, appealed to all restaurants, pubs, bars and hotels that showing TV signals of these channels was in violation to The Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Second) Tariff (Seventh Amendment) Order 2006 and The Telecommunication Broadcasting and Cable Services (Third) (CAS Area) Tariff (First amendment) Order, 2006.

''It is also illegal to take the signals for this World Cup either from the DD or though DTH,''he said.

''The notice, which has been published in many national newspapers recently, clearly states that "it is only upon entering a valid binding contract with SET Discovery Private limited that hotels, bars, restaurants, pubs, guest houses, cinema halls, public viewing areas, clubs and other commercial establishments can receive, retransmit and display 'The One Alliance' channels in their premises",''he said.

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