ESS switches off signals to GTPL in Gujarat

[Xen]

Sports broadcaster ESPN Star Sports is increasing pressure on cable TV networks to increase payouts on the wake of a one-year live cricket content that their channel Star Cricket will showcase beginning with the India-New Zealand series.

ESS has switched off signals to Gujarat Telelink Private Limited (GTPL), a year after their distribution pact with the leading multi-system operator (MSO) in Gujarat ended. Their stated grouse: non-payment of subscription fees running into millions of rupees.

ESS' upcoming live cricket telecast content spread over a year includes ICC Twenty20 World Cup, Champions League Twenty20 and a host of bi-lateral series like India-England, India-Pakistan and India-Australia.

ESPN Software India (ESI), the company that operates ESPN, Star Sports, Star Cricket, ESPN HD and Star Cricket HD channels, had switched off the signals in August after issuing a formal deactivation notice.

"We tried our best to resolve the issue. We were forced to take such a stance as GTPL did not pay us for the services availed. The outstandings are huge and run into crores of rupees," says ESPN Software India Vice President – Affiliate sales T S Panesar.

GTPL founder-promoter and managing director Anirudh Sinh Jadeja is not happy with the increase in payouts that ESS' is asking for a fresh deal and is negotiating better terms. "We will clear the dues. But they are asking for almost 20-25 per cent increase. That is too high in the current economic situation," he says.

The one-year distribution deal between ESS and GTPL, in which Hathway Cable & Datacom owns 50 per cent stake, ended 31 July last year. However, the former continued getting signals for almost a year.

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