TDSAT: MSM Discovery provide channels to Sun Direct

Televisionpoint.com Correspondent | Chennai
The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has directed MSM Discovery to provide channels on a la carte basis to Sun Direct, the direct-to-home (DTH) platform of Sun TV Network.

According to the TDSAT bench headed by Justice Arun Kumar, the Sun Direct was entitled to pick any channel from the bunch of 15 channels bouquet of MSM Discovery and would pay in accordance with their reference-interconnect-offer (RIO).

While passing the judgment, Kumar said, "We hold that the petitioner Sun Direct is entitled to the channels of its choice from the respondent MSM Discovery on a la carte basis. We direct MSM Discovery to supply signals of its channels on a la carte basis at the rates and on terms indicated in the RIO".

The dispute between Sun Direct and MSM Discovery arose six months back when MSM Discovery's channel Max was exclusively telecasting Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches.

In April, following the directions of TDSAT, MSM Discovery agreed to share its feed for entire bouquet for Rs 67 per month. However, later on 8 May, the tribunal passed an interim order further directing MSM Discovery to supply signal of Max at Rs 12.50 per month on a la carte basis to Sun Direct.

During the course of final hearing MSM Discovery alleged that Sun Direct altered its stand after IPL matches were over and gained maximum mileage by offering Max free-of-cost to its customers. It further submitted that post-IPL, Sun Direct asked its customers to pay Rs 20 for viewing channels.