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STAR Network,
with its bouquet of seven channels, has decided to cease telecast
on the Hinduja-run InCablenet in Mumbai. According to STAR’s
official press statement, this decision has been taken in view of
large outstandings by InCablenet. This amount, claims STAR, has
been outstanding for the last three months. STAR says this has remained
so despite repeated reminders over the last three months. According
to STAR, InCablenet pays for less than 10 per cent of its subscriber
base. The network claims to have a subscriber base of 1.5 million
at this state. The allegation by STAR is that this subscriber base
has been the same over the last six years.
"The stalemate
has been a combination of the money which has not been paid and
the claimed subscriber base," said STAR’s official spokesperson.
STAR has clarified that the other parts of Mumbai that are covered
by other cable operators will remain unaffected. When contacted,
InCablenet Executive Vice-Chairman Ram Hingorani said this was part
of a conspiracy by STAR. "STAR has clearly committed a breach
of the contract which they had signed with us," he said.
Mr Higorani
explained that the issues have come up for discussion after the
agreement was signed. He added that his company has filed a case
on the grounds of breach of agreement in the Bombay High Court.
According to Mr Hingorani, InCablenet may be forced to resort to
the MRTP for action if the issue is not resolved. "STAR is
just capitalising on the success of STAR Plus," he said.
—Sibabrata
Das
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