NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: Modi Entertainment Network, the distributors of DD sports and the Star India-backed MSO Hathway Cable and Datacom, appear to have declared a timeout in their tussle over paid connectivity numbers.
As of 10 am this morning, DD Sports, along with FTV, Hallmark and Ten Sports, were back on Hathway in Mumbai. And fears that the Hathway-MEN face-off might spread to the Capital proved unfounded as well on the day when the second cricket Test match between Indian and West Indies began. National broadcaster Doordarshan has exclusive telecast rights for the series.
It was following the MSO's refusal to accept DD Sports' recent monthly subscription price hike from Rs 7.15 to Rs 8.95 that MEN on 11 October switched off its feed in Mumbai and some other parts of Maharashtra.
When contacted, Rajan Kaaicker, CEO distribution group, MEN, would offer no details except to say that the two sides had reached an understanding.
It needs recalling that MEN has been taking out advertisements in The Times of India for three consecutive days explaining its stand on the matter and decrying Hathway's refusal to accept its terms. Whether this was in any way linked to the "understanding" that has been arrived at was not clear at the time of posting.