AXN and AXN HD shut down; SPNI portfolio down to 24 channels

After 21 years of operation, AXN and AXN HD have shutdown earlier today, in line with the Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) announcement made earlier last month. One of India’s oldest English Entertainment channels has succumbed after 21 years of operations due to the realignment of SPNI portfolio which has been going on for over a year now.

AXN and AXN HD have discontinued their transmission from 12 AM with the channel now showing black screen. DTH operators have already started the removal of the now shut-down channel. The shut down of AXN marks SPNI’s exit from the English Entertainment genre.

AXN has become the 3rd SPNI to succumb to its realignment of portfolio in the last 3 months with Sony MIX and Sony ESPN being shut down earlier at the end of March. SPNI’s portfolio is now down to 24 channels from the 29 channels it was offering earlier at the start of the year.

The shut down of AXN and AXN HD has also brought a reduction in the existing Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) bouquets which carry AXN and AXN HD. 14 Happy India Packs which carry the said channels will see an immediate reduction in the range of Rs 2.2-Rs 4.4 depending upon the bouquet.

The pricing unlike RIO amendments is compulsory for the broadcaster and DPOs to pass on, given the TRAI regulations which mandate a price revision in existing bouquets for any shut down of channels. At the time of filing this story, Dish TV and Tata Sky have already started the process of updating the new prices with other DPOs expected to follow suit.

The channel has over the recent past weeks bid adieu to its viewers through posts on social media. The channel has also bid adieu to its viewers earlier today in a tweet confirming the shut down.