Twenty-two channels of the Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) bouquet of channels have been dropped from the Tata Sky network owing to disagreement over revenue sharing between the broadcasters and the carrier.
While the channels are insisting on certain payment terms, Tata Sky was not willing to pay that much, leading to the situation, industry officials said. They said this was a normal practice before both parties reach out an amicable solutions for mutual benefits.
Missed call for activation
In accordance with TRAI regulations, Tata Sky on its own has identified 11 SPN channels, other than the 22 disbanded, to be beamed so that customers can view these popular channels.
But, for that, customers need to give a missed call for activation of any of these 11 channels as per their requirement. India Today TV is one of the channels among the 22 dropped. Based on the activation of the identified channels, Tata Sky will make payment to the broadcasters.
“Commercial negotiations with the broadcasters broke down as what they were seeking would have forced us to hike our prices. Hence, we have had to drop a few channels while keeping the popular ones on,” said Harit Nagpal, CEO & MD, Tata Sky.
“While doing so, we are paying Sony much more for the 11 channels retained on the A la Carte rate, versus the contracted rate for 3 times these channels. We request our subscribers to bear with us, as we are doing this in their best interest,” he said. “Tata Sky is committed and working in the interest of its subscribers. If people have already subscribed to the 11 channels which include SET, Sony SAB, Sony Six, Sony Ten, Sony Pix and Aaj Tak among others, they just need to add the channel at no extra cost by giving a missed call,” Tata Sky said.
Tata Sky has set up individual missed call numbers for each of the channels.
SPN in a statement said, “It is unfortunate that Tata Sky has unilaterally chosen to drop 22 SPN channels even though SPN has not increased the rates of its channels.”
