Tata Sky has again intimated its viewers that it will take down 26 channels from its platform due to either breach or expiration of agreements with content distributors. Notably, the cable TV company had also removed 32 channels by Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) earlier this month following the trouble between both the companies regarding expiration of the contract. The contract expired on July 31 this year, following which the companies were continuing negotiations, however, they could not conclude the pricing for both the parts after which Tata Sky removed the channels from its platform. This recent move, of removal of 26 more channels is another blow for the subscribers of the service.
Tata Sky to Remove 26 More Channels from Its Platform
As per this new public notice issued by Tata Sky, a total of 26 channels will be discontinued on the platform after three weeks from the date of issue of notice. Out of these 26 channels, 17 will be removed from the platform due to the expiry of the agreement, whereas the other will be removed due to a breach of the agreement.
Among the channels which will be removed due to expiry of agreement will be Al Jazeera, Manoranjan Movies, R Plus, Music F, Sangeet Bhojpuri, Mastiii, 9X Tashan, Swara Sagar, Captain TV, Mega TV, News 7 Tamil, Kalaignar Isai Aruvi, Kalaignar Sirippoli, Kalaignar, Kalaignar Seithigal, Jinvani TV, and Oscar Movies Bhojpuri. Nine other channels which will be removed due to the breach of the agreement which will include News Time Bangla, Dhoom Music Bangla, Rupasi Bangla, Prag News, Vedic, Aastha Bhajan, Care World, Janta TV, and Puthiya Thalaimurai.
Tata Sky Also Removed 37 Channels Earlier This Month
It’s worth noting that Tata Sky had also issued a similar notice in September informing the viewers about its move of removing 37 channels based on the same reasons. The notice which was released in September marked Suddhi TV, Shop CJ, Bangla TV, Jonack, DY 365, News11, NHK World TV, Studio N News, Adhyatm, Assam Talks, News7 (Prameya News), CVR News, CVR Health, CVR Spiritual Om, CVR News English, APN, Bhojpuri Cinema, Jai Paras TV, Paras Gold, Dangal, Enterr10, Fakt Marathi, Buland News Samachar Plus, HNN 24×7, News1 India, V6, and Jai Maharashtra to be up for removal from the Tata Sky platform.
Tata Sky had also earmarked channels from India Today to be removed earlier this month. Additionally, ten more channels marked for removal included names like MediaOne TV, Safari, Khabrain Abhi Tak, Bharat Samachar, HomeShop18, 9XM, 9X Jhakaas, 9XOand News India 24×7, 9X Jalwa.
After following the struggle with SPN, the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) directed the two parties to sign either a negotiated agreement or reference interconnect offer (RIO) within four weeks from 11 October. The second largest DTH platform also had a clash with ZEEL and IndiaCast Media Distribution over the same issue of content renewal deal.
