Just in time. Seven Star Cable Network, which was the only MSO in Mumbai still to sign on to the new subscriber regime of ESPN Star Sports, has finally thrashed out an agreement with the sports broadcaster. Following the agreement, telecast resumed on 11 April.

According to the information available, 7 Star agreed to increase its declared connectivity from 7,000 to 10,000 (a figure that works out to 10 per cent of the estimated 100,000 homes the MSO services).

The contract between ESPN Software and 7 Star is similar to the one the sports broadcaster signed recently with the Hinduja Group's InCableNet. The deal runs through till 31 December 2003 and there have been clauses included that allow for ramping up of the declared subscriber base in a phased manner.

With the figure decided upon, sports buffs in western Mumbai, who had to make do without the sports channel while the broadcaster and the MSO wrestled connectivity figures and hiked rates, now again have access to the India-West Indies series that began 11 April.

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