With just two days to go for the India-England cricket series, uncertainty remains on whether cable TV viewers and DTH subscribers.
NEW DELHI: With just two days to go for the India-England cricket series, uncertainty remains on whether cable TV viewers and DTH subscribers, especially those of Tata Sky, will be able to watch the matches as sports broadcaster ESPN Star and service providers are yet to reach an agreement.
"We are exploring all possible ways to protect our customers from the rise in costs as Star Cricket is a pay channel. Currently, we are in negotiations and are attempting to find a solution in the best interest of customers," a Tata Sky spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said even if Tata Sky was unable to strike a deal with ESPN Star, subscribers would be able to watch the one-day matches on public broadcaster Doordarshan.
ESPN Star's decision to beam the cricket series only on its new channel Star Cricket has caught the service providers off-guard.
"The cricket matches were expected to be featured on broadcaster's existing channels -- ESPN and Star Sports, but now we are informed that Star Cricket, which is also a pay channel, will carry the same," the spokesperson said.
When contacted, an ESPN Star official said negotiations with Tata Sky were still going on.
ESPN has signed MSO Incable for its operations in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore and Dish TV to carry its newly-launched channel Star Cricket.
Cable operators also said discussions with ESPN were going on and they were hopeful of concluding a deal soon.
Cable Operators Association of India President Roop Sharma said: "The talks between ESPN and cable operators are inconclusive as the broadcaster has priced its channel high and subscribers are not ready to pay extra for that."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}