BackTataSky, an 80:20 JV between Tata and Star
TataSky, an 80:20 JV between Tata and Star
Bloomberg
NEW DELHI: India has been contending that Sun TV was denying signals due to its own interest in the Direct-To-Home business.
TDSAT’s interim decision comes as a setback to Sun TV as it no longer would have exclusivity of channels in its own DTH service. Besides, the order would help TataSky expand in the southern states where Sun TV has a strong foothold. The final hearing on the matter will be held in May this year.
Sun TV is in the process of launching its own DTH service, which goes by the name of Sun Direct. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had on February 22 cleared investment by Mauritius-based South Asia Entertainment Holdings Ltd of $150 million (Rs675 crore) in Sun TV.
The tribunal also observed that the two channels which Dish TV viewers were getting at present was because Zee and Doordarshan were using the same transponder in a satellite to beam their channels.
“For present purposes it seems as if Dish TV is not showing any of the respondent’s (Sun TV) channel. This casts a doubt about the argument that another DTH operator Dish TV has taken the entire bouquet," TDSAT said.
The tribunal also said that at this stage it was difficult to say whether the agreement between Dish TV and Sun was real or not. Though it was improtant to see as to why Dish TV was still not showing any of the channels of the respondents in spite of the alleged agreement."
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