By Martin Shwenk Leade
Copyright indiatimes
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The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has admitted a petition filed by Kerala-based multi-system operator (MSO) Satlinks against broadcaster Star India, owned by Reliance Industries and Walt Disney, over alleged pricing bias and billing disputes.The matter was heard by TDSAT Chairperson Justice Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel and Member Subodh Kumar Gupta, with the interim order issued on September 8.Satlinks, represented by advocate Aljo K Joseph, said Star India raised a demand of Rs 1.17 crore in a notice dated July 29 and disconnected signals on August 25 when the payment was not made.The MSO argued that the amount was inflated and that its own records showed dues of about Rs 80.6 lakh as of June 2025, with a further 35% deduction applicable towards marketing-related fees that broadcasters pay to distributors.The operator further alleged that it was being charged higher rates than other MSOs, which it said had hurt its subscriber base. It offered to pay Rs 20 lakh immediately if signals were restored.Live EventsPricing discrimination is prohibited by law, and broadcasters are required to offer channels and bouquets to all distributors at the same price.Star India, represented by advocate Sidharth Chopra, denied the allegations. The broadcaster said the dues related to 12 months of arrears and argued that Satlinks had been irregular in payments.It maintained that the July 29 notice was valid and that pricing was uniform. It further argued that the MSO’s claim of deductions from the notice amount was incorrect.After hearing both sides, the tribunal directed Satlinks to pay Rs 40 lakh in two instalments: Rs 20 lakh by September 11 and another Rs 20 lakh by September 26. Star India was asked to restore signals within 24 hours of receiving the first payment.The tribunal clarified that these payments would not be treated as admission of liability and would be adjusted against the final amount to be determined later. The interim order will remain in force until the next hearing, scheduled for November 6.The dispute is reminiscent of the pre–new tariff order (NTO) era when broadcasters were often accused of discriminatory pricing, offering larger platforms content at more attractive rates while charging smaller players significantly higher prices.The NTO, notified in 2017 and implemented by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in 2019 following TDSAT directions, was aimed at creating a holistic regulatory framework to curb such practices.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
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