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Indiantelevision.com's Digital Edge

Tdsat rejects petition seeking intervention between Sun and RCV

Indiantelevision.com Team

(2 July 2008 11:00 pm)

NEW DELHI: Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (Tdsat) has dismissed a petition seeking directions to the Maran brothers-owned Channel Plus and Royal Cable Vision (RCV), a MSO owned by M K Azhagiri, son of state Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, to show Sun TV.

The petition, filed by the Federation of Consumer Organisations, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry (FEDCOT), had requested the tribunal to intervene into the on-going dispute between RCV and Channel Plus. FEDCOT had pleaded that the people of the state of Tamil Nadu were fond of programmes on Sun TV programmes and they were being deprived of viewing these. K Murugan, Secretary General of FEDCOT who appeared in person, said this was because of the political rivalry of Maran and Azhagiri.

However, counsel for Sun TV and RCV contended that they were negotiating on the lines of regulations drafted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

RCV said an application was made by his clients on 24 June to M/s Channel Plus for supply of signals and this application was pending consideration.

Tdsat Chairman Justice Arun Kumar in a brief order said, "In view of this, the petition is not maintainable. RCV is already trying to get signals from Channel Plus and therefore the petition is disposed off at this stage".

Justice Kumar noted that earlier on June 14 he had rejected the prayer of RCV for passing a direction to Channel Plus for supply of Sun TV signals but had directed Azhagiri-owned MSO to apply afresh after finding that it was not done in accordance with regulations framed by TRAI.

According to the Interconnection Regulations, an MSO has to furnish a list of local or area cable operators who would be getting signals for their network.