CAS homes may not get ESPN Star from July 14

Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata to be affected.

Sports broadcaster ESPN Star Sports has served a disconnection notice to the three Multi System Operators (MSOs) WWIL, InCable and Hathway present in the CAS areas of the three metros of Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai , accusing them of failing to honour the CAS Interconnect Agreement.

The broadcaster has cited non-implementation of conditional access system (CAS) as the major reason for the step. Lack of susbcriber management system, rampant piracy of sports signals and non-payment of outstanding dues all have been cited as reasons. The decision would affect around 50,000 homes.

The blackout will be effective from July 14. This will deprive cricket lovers the live coverage of the ongoing tour of Indian cricket team to England.

According to the CAS interconnect agreement, MSOs have to provide the names and addresses of all susbcribers to the broadcasters.

Unfazed by the notice, MSOs are looking to challenge ESPN in Telecom Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

"This is a pressure tactic adopted by ESPN even after we have provided them with all the details of CAS connections, payments etc. If they actually disconnect ESPN Star Sports, we will go to TDSAT," Arvind Mohan, executive VP, Essel and a leading member of MSO Alliance told Business Standard.

On the charge of rampant piracy in CAS areas affecting the sports broadcaster, Mohan said, they will have to prove that piracy exists.

According to industry sources, ESPN wants the MSOs to pay Rs 28 per subscriber, the cost of Star Cricket, the yet-to-be-launched all cricket channel. But MSOs say that after the sports law that makes mandatory sharing of all first-class cricket by private sports channel with Doordarshan, Rs 28 is very costly.

"This is unacceptable to MSOs and ESPN can not arm-twist us by accusing us of not honouring the CAS Interconnect Agreement," a senior executive of another MSO said.