MUMBAI: Subscribers of MSO IndusInd Media & Communications Limited (IMCL) will soon not be able to view NDTV channels.

A scroll running on the home page of the MSO warns subscribers that ‘Public notice: NDTV channels namely NDTV 24X7, NDTV Profit, NDTV Goodtimes and NDTV Hindi are liable to be switched off due to non payment.’ If customers want to continue viewing the channels then they can either call up IMCL’s toll free number or send an email.

An executive from NDTV’s distribution team said that the network’s deal with IMCL was up for renewal but the MSO was asking for an exorbitant amount of carriage fees. The broadcaster on the other hand is not willing to give in to the demands.

“IMCL has lost huge ground in Mumbai and some other areas because of digitisation and despite that they are asking for such high carriage fees. They don’t want to negotiate a lower price and neither do we have the intent to pay more. So, most probably we won’t be renewing the deal,” says an executive from the network.

 IMCL has approximately 10 lakh set top boxes in Mumbai and the surrounding areas that come under digital addressable system (DAS) I.

Another executive from the network said, “They don’t have value for money. If they want to disconnect, then it’s up to them. If the subscribers want the channel, they will ask for it, if they don’t then also it won’t bother us much.”

 IMCL executives were unavailable for comment on the issue.