MUMBAI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has asked Star India and direct to home (DTH) operator Airtel DTH to negotiate and enter into an agreement.

Both the parties had threatened to take action against each other. Airtel DTH said it would remove all Star India channels while the broadcasters said it would disconnect its signals. Bharti Telemedia, which operates Airtel DTH, had moved TDSAT against Star India’s disconnection notice. The tribunal has restrained Star from giving effect to its disconnection notice while directing the DTH operator to clear the dues. 

The tribunal directed the DTH operator to pay all lawful dues in accordance with the agreement by the due date as indicated in Star’s letter dated 7 March, except the amount of Rs 9.8. crore.

“Parties are at liberty to negotiate and enter into an agreement in accordance with the regulations and their understanding. If need be, either of the party can file an application for clarification and directions,” the TDSAT said in the order.

On 16 February, Star had issued a disconnection notice to Bharti Telemedia for non-signing of the subscription agreement, non-payment of subscription fees and non-submission of subscribers reports.

“Due to failure to arrive at mutually acceptable terms with Star India, with effect from 8 March 2018 all Star network channels will be temporarily discontinued from your packs,” the DTH operator informed its subscribers.

The tribunal has also clubbed the matter with those involving Star India and DTH operators Dish TV and Videocon d2h. The two DTH operators had moved TDSAT in August 2017 after Star rebranded its Hindi GEC Life OK as Star Bharat and launched the pay channel on DD’s free DTH platform Free Dish.

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