Sun TV told to provide channel feeds to Tata Sky by TDSAT

Sun TV told to provide channel feeds to Tata Sky by TDSAT

Broadcast regulator TDSAT has said in a ruling that the Kalanidhi Maran-owned Sun TV would have to share its feed with the DTH operator Tata Sky.

This ruling can be seen as a major setback for the South India based Media Company. Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) said in its ruling that Sun TV would have to provide its 20 channels on a-la-carte (pick and choose) basis to Tata Sky.

Interestingly, Sun TV is already working on plans to launch their own DTH service. TDSAT Chairman Justice Arun Kumar spoke about this ruling: “We direct the respondent (Sun TV) to make available signals of all channels to the petitioner (Tata Sky) on a-al-carte basis at 50 per cent of its declared rates.”

Sun TV had claimed in their defense that they are already providing all its channels under a single package for DTH operators. TDSAT responded by saying: “We are unable to accept the contention of the respondent that petitioner has to accept all the channels as a package. The respondent has not placed any material before us nor anything was referred to in support of the stand that it was offering its channels only as a bouquet/package to its customers.”