Sony issues disconnection notice against Tata Sky

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has issued disconnection notice to direct to home (DTH) operator Tata Sky for non-renewal of agreement. In its caution notice, the broadcaster stated that its channels will be discontinued from the platform three weeks from the issue of notice.

SPNI has said that both Sony and TV Today Network channels will be discontinued. Sony also distributes the TV Today Network channels.

On 9 September, Tata Sky had issued a disconnection notice to TV18 Broadcast and Turner International India due to non-renewal of agreement. The DTH operator had stated that the TV18 and Turner channels distributed by IndiaCast Media Distribution will cease to be on the platform 15 days from the date of the notice.

Incidentally, IndiaCast Media Distribution had also issued a disconnection notice to Tata Sky due to non-signing of agreement on behalf of TV18, Viacom18, Turner International India and Eenadu Television.

IndiaCast has a bouquet of 68+ channels including 17+ HD channels spanning across various genres including general entertainment, kids, news, music, infotainment, and movies in India.

Tata Sky had moved Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against IndiaCast’s disconnection notice.

The DTH operator had done the same with ZEEL as well. After ZEEL issued a disconnection notice, the DTH operator hit back with its own disconnection notice against the broadcaster.

Tata Sky is a leading DTH platform in the country after Dish TV/Videocon d2h combine with 25% share of the active pay DTH subscribers market of 67.53 million.

According to a Crisil report, Tata Sky’s net profit has zoomed to Rs 408 crore for the fiscal ended March 2018 as against Rs 8 crore in the previous fiscal.

PAT margin saw an improvement at 7.1% compared to 0.1% in the year-ago period. In FY17, the company’s net profit had tanked 90% to Rs 8 crore compared to Rs 80 crore in FY16.

Tata Sky’s FY18 revenue has jumped 8% to Rs 5719 crore from Rs 5302 crore in FY17. The revenue was Rs 4472 crore in FY16.