Prime sports action out from most homes

Aug 26, 2012 - Rohit Raj |

Kochi

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A majority of Keralites are losing live coverage of the ongoing India-New Zealand cricket series, live football action from Barclays Premier League & Spanish La Liga.

Chances are they won’t also see the live telecast of ICC World Twenty20 next month and Champions League Twenty20. The reason: the continuing standoff between Asianet Cable Vision and ESPN-STAR.

For the third consecutive year, the stalemate between the two broadcasting giants has continued and it seems the negotiations have also reached a dead end. At present, ACV has a market share of more than 50 per cent in the state.

According to Mr T.S. Panesar, vice president, Affiliate sales, ESPN, “We have tried our best to resolve the situation, but Asianet Satellite Communication cable does not look really keen to arrive at a mutually acceptable situation.

The terms that Asianet is seeking are not reasonable, and hence do not make commercial sense for us, he added.

However, according to Asianet, negotiations are going on and they are expecting a positive result.
“What ESPN says is wrong, we hope that the issue will be settled in two days,” a top official said.

According to ESPN, ACV wanted the sports channels at a discount from the prevailing rate.
The monthly subscription fee offered by Asianet was much lower than the interim arrangement between the parties that expired in May 2011.

Both parties dragged the issue to the supreme court and subsequently to the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). ESPN is broadcasting Italian Serie A and FA cup as well.

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