Star Sports’ removal from DPO packs of 3 TN MSOs could be a setback of 25 mn viewers

After three leading multi-system operators – GTPL Hathway, DEN Networks, and Hathway Cable & Datacom – removed Star Sports and its other channels from their basic plans from April 1, 2023, now three Tamil Nadu-based MSOs – SCV, TCCL, and VK Digital – have removed Star Sports channels from their DPO packs, as per industry sources. The Star Sports channels have been placed on a-la-carte.

This means that customers will now have to shell out more to watch the ongoing Tata IPL 2023 as they subscribe to Star Sports on a-la-carte basis.

According to sources, these three major MSOs in Tamil Nadu jointly command 6.5 million to 7 million TV households. Star Sports’ availability is expected to impacted by around 5.5 million households.

Calculating an average of 4.5 viewers per household, thus a loss of 5.5 million household would result in approximately 25 million viewers for Star Sports.

Calculating an average of 4.5 viewers per household, thus a loss of 5.5 million household would result in approximately 25 million viewers for Star Sports.

As is known, Disney Star bagged the IPL television rights for the Indian subcontinent for Rs 23,575 crore for the 2023-27 seasons. So far, Disney Star has roped in 13 sponsors, including Dream11, Asian Paints, Thums Up, Airtel, Cadbury, Mountain Dew, Parle Biscuits, Kamla Pasand, Rupay, Britannia, Tata Neu, Jindal Panther TMT Rebars and LIC.