TataSky approaches TDSAT over pricing issue

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Direct-to-Home operator TataSky, engaged in legal spat with ESPN over issue of pricing and putting sports broadcaster channels in entry level pay tier, approached TDSAT requesting to discharge the company from the undertaking submitted by it.

Admitting it, sectoral tribunal Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) Chairman Justice Arun kumar directed ESPN to file its reply by Friday this week.

In the undertaking, earlier submitted before the Delhi High Court in June, TataSky had said that it would restore all three ESPN group channels - ESPN, Star Sports and Star Cricket- in its basic tier.

During the proceedings of TDSAT, counsels appearing for TataSky submitted that its undertaking was submitted while responding ESPN's new reference interconnect offer (RIO).

However, following the directions of sectoral regulator TRAI, the sports broadcaster has withdrew it and hence there was no ground for its continuation.

TataSky also submitted that due to that undertaking it was compelled to provide all three channels to its consumers and was not getting anything in return from them.

"At this situation, we could not even go back to our 2.2 million customers saying that look now I would charge you for that," submitted TataSky's counsel.

On May 20, while implementing new packages and tariff structures TataSky, a 80:20 joint venture between Tata and broadcast major Star, had removed ESPN from its base packages.