NEW DELHI: Ending one of the most vicious spats in the media industry, India TV and Century Communications Ltd have settled out of court the issue of overdue rent. This has normalised things, with the channel agreeing to shift office at a later date.

CCL and India TV had crossed swords over the issue of rent, with the latter claiming last year that more than Rs six crore had not been paid by the channel in terms of rent for the premises as well as the hi-tech digital news rooms that CCL had also rented to the channel.

The full amount has been paid off by India TV, sources said, and it has agreed to move to a new facility they are developing by the end of November 2009. Until that time, they would occupy the same premises in Noida Film City.

The drama had gone on for several months, with CCL officials alleging in a press conference last year that the lives of the owners had been threatened, and that they had written to the Union Home Minister for protection.

India TV owner Rajat Sharma could not contacted, and the company COO Rohit Bansal was out of town at the time of writing.

CCL officials did not want to elaborate further, as the matter had "happily concluded, and no further controversy should arise."