CABLE TV OPS CONTINUE SHOW OF RESISTANCE AGAINST STAR SPORTS

Cable TV operators are continuing with their Star Sports bashing in the media. Delhi cable TV operators presented a united face to the media last week when they said that they had taken a decision to transmit the DD World Cup Cricket television feed of the 11 matches that it had rights for rather than Star Sports' telecast. They also threatened that they would black out any TV commercials aired on ESPN and Star Sports replacing these with their own ads.

Earlier MSOs in Mumbai and Calcutta had threatened to yank the channel off their networks if it insisted that they pay it higher carriage fees. Star Sports had increased subscription rates from Rs 3.40 per sub to Rs 4.99 on 17 March. Star Sports says it has already signed direct deals with a majority of cable TV operators associated with the MSOs, and that a blackout is not possible because of pressure from viewers in cricket crazy India.

It has also sent a memo to them warning them that legal action would be taken against any cable operator who replaces ESPN-Star Sports-contracted advertising with his own local ads. Cable ops have taken umbrage to the notice.

The Star Sports management is also believed to be taking steps to curb piracy by unauthorised cable TV operators who have boasted that they will not pay carriage fees and yet show the Star Sports signal on their networks by stealing it from those who are authorised to do so.

Meanwhile, the Star TV network has switched off its digital bouquet to all headends of the Hinduja-run InCablenet in Mumbai for non-payment of dues. InCableNEt, Star TV, says owes it Rs 12 million, an amount it has been reluctant to part with in a hurry.