Tata Sky subscribers get a rude shock

Millions of subscribers of Tata Sky were in for a rude shock on Tuesday when they were alerted to the fact that 22 channels of the Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) were dropped due to pricing issues between the two media companies.

The dropped channels include Sony Entertainment Television, SAB, Max, AXN, Sony Pix, Aaj Tak and India Today TV, among others.

Insiders have reportedly said that the channels were dropped because Tata Sky was not willing to accept the payment terms demanded by SPN.

“We have had to drop a few channels while keeping the popular ones on. While doing so, we are paying Sony much more for the 11 channels retained on the a la carte rate, versus the contracted rate for three-times these channels. We request our subscribers to bear with us, as we are doing this in their best interest,” Harit Nagpal, MD, Tata Sky told the Economic Times.

Even as people took to social media to express their annoyance at the situation, SPN issued a statement calling the Tata Sky decision “unfortunate”.

SPN in a statement said, “It is unfortunate that Tata Sky has unilaterally chosen to drop 22 SPN channels even though SPN has not increased the rates of its channels.”
An unidentified SPN spokesperson also reportedly told ET: “ … By unilaterally dropping the SPN channels, Tata Sky is depriving its viewers of the opportunity to watch world-class entertainment and live sporting action. Further, by compelling existing subscribers to give separate “missed” calls even to continue watching the SPN channels they have already paid for, Tata Sky is not acting in consumer interest.”

Ten SPN Channels retained by Tata Sky include SET, SET HD, Sony SAB, MAX, Sony Six, Sony Ten 1, Ten 1 HD, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony Ten 3 and Pix HD) and one India Today channel (Aaj Tak) on the platform.

If subscribers wish to add to these channels, they have been instructed to give a missed call. But to add these channels subscribers have been asked to give a missed call on specific numbers.