Star serials may be back in Kolkata homes

Manthan refuses to comment

The two-month long face-off between Star India and Manthan, a multiple services operator (MSO) which services around 7 lakh cable and satellite (C&S) households in greater Kolkata, has come to an end.

Viewers in Kolkata can see serials on Star Plus, hopefully by the morning of May 11. A settlement was reached late on May 9 between the two operators with Manthan signing the contract for the year with the broadcaster and agreeing to pay its dues.

The case filed in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal will also be withdrawn.

Star had switched off feed of its popular Star Plus channel to Manthan on March 15 this year alleging non-payment of dues.

On April 15, another MSO, Indian Cable Net (ICN), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Siticable which services around 45 per cent homes in greater Kolkata, switched off Star Plus, in an expression of solidarity with Manthan.

Negotiations are also on between ICN and Star to end that dispute, and a settlement is imminent.

Amit Nag, chief executive, ICN, says, "It is true that our a number of our operators were getting into trouble since there is a huge demand for Star channels."

The timing is right, as 'Prithviraj Chauhan "" Dharti Ka Veer Yoddha', a historical, debuts on Star Plus on May 12.

The MSOs' complaints against the broadcaster included "high-handedness" in increasing subscription rates by 7 per cent and foisting a second bouquet on them.

Star India countered it saying that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had mandated the rise.

Under the recent contract, Manthan will pay Rs 32.10 for bouquet-I, as against the old rate of Rs 30, said Yash Khanna, senior vice-president of corporate affairs at Star India.

However, the bouquet-II issue remains open with Manthan saying that it needed to go back to its operators on it, he said.

When contacted, Gurmeet Singh, director, Manthan Broadband Services Pvt. Ltd, said he would not say anything on the matter.