ESPN STAR threatens to switch off signals to Hathway

Leading sports broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports on Thursday said it has served notices for switching off signals for its channels on cable network operators Hathway Cable and Datacom, due to non-payment of dues. While signals have been switched off already in some cities, all the ESPN STAR Sports channels would go off-air across the country from December 1 on Hathway’s cable network, which is currently in the process of raising funds and listing itself in the stock market with an IPO. “We have been left with no alternative but to resort to this (switching off signals), as Hathway owes us more than Rs 16.5 crore and have been showing no signs of making this payment, inspite of repeated requests,” ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd-s Associate VP (affiliate sales) Makarand Palekar said.