SPN & Tata Sky clarify on dropping of 22 Sony channels

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) and Tata Sky have locked horns over the DTH service provider unilaterally choosing to drop 22 SPN channels from its subscription. 

When Adgully reached out to Tata Sky, in a statement issued, Harit Nagpal, CEO & MD of Tata Sky, informed, “Commercial negotiations with the broadcasters broke down as what they were seeking would have forced us to hike our prices.” On the other hand, SPN maintained that it had not increased the rates of its channels. 

Nagpal further stated, “We’ve had to drop a few channels while keeping the popular ones on. While doing so, we are paying Sony much more for the 11 channels retained on the A la Carte rate, versus the contracted rate for 3 times these channels. We request our subscribers’ to bear with us, as we are doing this in their best interest.” 

On the other hand, SPN in its statement, said, “By unilaterally dropping the channels, Tata Sky is depriving its viewers of the opportunity to watch world class entertainment and live sporting action.” 

Tata Sky subscribers who have already subscribed to the popular 11 channels, which include SET, Sony SAB, Sony Six, Sony Ten, Sony Pix and Aaj Tak, among others, can add the channel at no extra cost by giving a missed call on the numbers appearing on their screens. 

SPN berated this by stating, “By compelling existing subscribers to give separate ‘missed’ calls even to continue watching the SPN channels they have already paid for, Tata Sky is not acting in consumers’ interest.” The broadcaster further said, “We would like to reassure Tata Sky subscribers that the SPN channels are available under the TRAI mandated Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO). All they have to do is call Tata Sky and demand that the channels be provided to them.”