Dish TV clears second installment of Star’s dues, reaches settlement with Sun TV

Direct to home (DTH) operator Dish TV has cleared the second installment of Star India‘s dues. The DTH operator has also cleared previous invoices as well as the current invoice for September.

In the hearing on 21st November, senior counsel for Dish TV submitted that even the invoice for the month of September 2019 which can be treated as the current invoice has been paid by the DTH operator and also the earlier invoices and the second installment.

The third installment will fall due by end of November 2019 and the invoice for October 2019 will fall due by 10th December. It is expected that the DTH operator shall abide by its representation noted earlier.

Star will not give effect to its disconnection notice now that its dues are being cleared by the DTH operator as per schedule.

Learned senior counsel for the petitioner has hinted that DTH operator is entitled to certain incentives in terms of the agreement enunciated and the circular of the respondent dated 27.9.2019. He further submits that the invoices for the incentives have already been raised and submitted. According to him, an early resolution of the demand for incentive will ease the burden upon the petitioner in making further payments.

Star India counsel submitted that these invoices have been raised simultaneously for several months and, therefore, verification is taking some time. However, he assures that the task shall be completed and a suitable reply shall be given to the petitioner informing him whatever is found admissible by way of incentives.

The tribunal stated that a decision on the claim for incentives raised by the DTH operator shall be taken expeditiously and preferably within ten days. The matter has been posted under the same head on 11th December.

In the Dish TV vs Sun TV Network matter, the counsels for both the parties submitted that they concluded a settlement agreement and, therefore, nothing survives for adjudications. The tribunal allowed the prayer for withdrawal of the petition. Dish TV’s petition has been disposed of as withdrawn.

Learned counsel for the broadcaster submitted that a copy of the settlement agreement be taken on record and it may be indicated that if the terms of the settlement are violated, parties will be at liberty to take action in accordance with law.

“Let the settlement terms recorded in two e-mails dated 16.10.2019 be taken on record. In case of violation of terms of the settlement, the parties will be at liberty to take action in accordance with law,” TDSAT said in its order.