DTH operator TataSky has issued a public notice to stop airing 58 channels belonging to Reliance Industries Ltd.-owned TV18 Network and Turner International in less than two weeks owing to disagreement over revenue sharing. The channels will be blocked, if no agreement is reached by September 24.
Naming the 58 channels, the TataSky advertisement released in two news papers said: “The following channels shall ceased to be carried on our DTH platform with effect from 15 days from the date of this publication due to failure of mutual understanding to renew the agreement between the parties.”
A TV18 executive declined to comment saying “the matter is sub judice”. TataSky executives also declined to comment. The prominent channels that could be blocked include CNBC TV18, the Colors channels, the ETV channels and CNN International, Pogo and Cartoon Network.
The public notice has been issued in accordance with Telecom Regulatory Authority of India guidelines to make the public aware well in advance before the channels go off air. The channels have approached the TRAI seeking higher revenue share which is not agreeable to TataSky leading to non-renewal of the agreement.
