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Zee Turner switches off channels to Sky Media Patrika

Indiantelevision.com Team

(6 January 2009 3:00 pm)

NEW DELHI: Zee Turner has blacked out its group of channels to Sky Media Patrika, a multi-system operator affiliated with Den, in Jodhpur due to disputes over commercial terms.

According to Zee Turner, Sky Media has not renewed its agreement with the company and also owes an outstanding amount on account of subscription.

Zee Turner switched off the channels, following a public notice it served against Sky Media Patrika on 3 September.

Zee Turner CEO Dinesh Jain says, “Sky Media Patrika had signed an agreement with Zee Turner which has expired now. For the new agreement, we have asked for hike as the MSO was paying on a lower subscriber base to Zee Turner as compared to other broadcasters.”

Zee Turner also claims that the MSO has harassed its employees during the recent promotion of its popular channels - Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Cartoon Network, Ten Sports, etc - which was disrupted by violent attacks in Jodphur.

Den CEO Anuj Gandhi, however, disagrees. “The main reason for the dispute is that Zee Turner has asked for 60 per cent increase in subscriber base. We have not agreed for this. Moreover, Zee Turner’s claim that Sky Media owes an outstanding amount is completely false. And we had no role to play in the violence,” he says.