Dileep Kumar
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MUMBAI: The commercial dispute between Zee and Hathway Cable and Datacom has turned ugly. Following a similar path like IndiaCast and Star Sports, Taj Television, the distribution arm of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL), has issued advertisements in leading dailies asking Hathway Cable and Datacom subscribers to question why Zee and Turner channels have been put on a la carte.
The ads run by Taj Television is only going to escalate the ongoing feud between the two companies that began with the distribution firm issuing disconnection notice to Hathway for non-signing of agreement and non-payment of subscription fees.
Taj Television has urged Hathway subscribers to call the cable TV service provider and ask for a reduction in monthly subscription as Zee and Turner channels are presently part of the monthly bouquet.
The ad also asks customers to shift to alternative direct-to-home (DTH) and cable TV platforms so that they can continue to receive Zee and Turner channels.
This has been a standard practice adopted by most broadcasters to put pressure on distribution platforms to carry their channels.
“Don’t let anyone dictate your choice. Insist on your favourite channels,” the public notice read.
The Taj Television bouquet comprises channels from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL), Zee Media Corporation and Turner International.
Taj has a total of 42 channels in its bouquet including Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee News, Cartoon Network, Pogo and HBO.
Earlier, Taj Television had disconnected signals of its channels to Hathway following the end of the 21-day notice period.
This prompted Hathway to move TDSAT for reinstatement of signals of the channels to its network.
The TDSAT in its interim order directed Taj Television to restore signals to Hathway while asking the latter to clear Taj Television’s outstanding dues at the rate of Rs 21.60 per subscriber for the April to July period, subject to adjustments at a later stage, which would include the Zee (excluding sports) and Turner group of channels.
The tribunal had also allowed Hathway to put Taj Television channels on RIO from 1 August.
Hathway faced a similar kind of attack from Star Sports when it put the sportscasters’ channels on a la carte in DAS phase I and II areas. IndiaCast UTV also had taken a similar route against Dish TV when the DTH operator had put the aggregators’ channels on a la carte.
Zee's Taj Television builds pressure on Hathway via public notices | TelevisionPost.com
The ads run by Taj Television is only going to escalate the ongoing feud between the two companies that began with the distribution firm issuing disconnection notice to Hathway for non-signing of agreement and non-payment of subscription fees.
Taj Television has urged Hathway subscribers to call the cable TV service provider and ask for a reduction in monthly subscription as Zee and Turner channels are presently part of the monthly bouquet.
The ad also asks customers to shift to alternative direct-to-home (DTH) and cable TV platforms so that they can continue to receive Zee and Turner channels.
This has been a standard practice adopted by most broadcasters to put pressure on distribution platforms to carry their channels.
“Don’t let anyone dictate your choice. Insist on your favourite channels,” the public notice read.
The Taj Television bouquet comprises channels from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL), Zee Media Corporation and Turner International.
Taj has a total of 42 channels in its bouquet including Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee News, Cartoon Network, Pogo and HBO.
Earlier, Taj Television had disconnected signals of its channels to Hathway following the end of the 21-day notice period.
This prompted Hathway to move TDSAT for reinstatement of signals of the channels to its network.
The TDSAT in its interim order directed Taj Television to restore signals to Hathway while asking the latter to clear Taj Television’s outstanding dues at the rate of Rs 21.60 per subscriber for the April to July period, subject to adjustments at a later stage, which would include the Zee (excluding sports) and Turner group of channels.
The tribunal had also allowed Hathway to put Taj Television channels on RIO from 1 August.
Hathway faced a similar kind of attack from Star Sports when it put the sportscasters’ channels on a la carte in DAS phase I and II areas. IndiaCast UTV also had taken a similar route against Dish TV when the DTH operator had put the aggregators’ channels on a la carte.
Zee's Taj Television builds pressure on Hathway via public notices | TelevisionPost.com
