(2 April 2008 2:30 pm)

NEW DELHI: Hathway Cable & Datacom has given a written undertaking to Tdsat (Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal) to feed Neo Sports’ signals only in the Cas (conditional access system) areas.

If the channel's signals are seen outside the Cas areas, given by any local cable operator (LCO) affiliated to Hathway, the multi-system operator would have to disconnect the LCO within one hour.

Neo, on its part, can't disconnect the signals to Hathway.

Hathway had filed an appeal with the Tdsat on 1 April, asking the tribunal to order Neo not to disconnect its signals to the MSO.

Neo proved that Hathway, contrary to its agreement, had been feeding the Neo signals to STBs sold by its affiliate LCOs outside the Cas areas, which amounts to piracy.

Neo counsel today argued that its agreement with the MSO states clearly that it would feed the sportscaster’s signals only within Cas areas and not beyond.

Only on tendering the undertaking did Tdsat assure Hathway that Neo would not disconnect its signals to the MSO.