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ESPN resorting to arm-twisting: Asianet

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DEC. 4. Asianet Satellite Communications today charged ESPN Star Sports with resorting to arm-twisting tactics against cable operators.

In a statement here today, Asianet said the decision of ESPN Star Sports to switch off signals to it yesterday was part of these tactics. The signals were switched off in the night after sending a fax message after office hours, "virtually making it a discontinuation of service without notice," Asianet said.

The agreement between Asianet and ESPN Star Sports expired on November 30 last year and negotiations were on for extending its period.

`One-sided clauses'

Asianet said it had suggested removing from the agreement some of the "one-sided clauses" that were inconsistent with Indian laws and bringing parity between the rates charged by ESPN Star Sports and those charged by the other channel operators in Kerala and other parts of the country.

The ESPN Star Sports discontinued its signals to Asianet without notice when India was playing against Australia in Australia, a tactic that they follow every time important events take place. The India-Bangladesh cricket series is due to commence on December 9.

If Asianet gives in to "the unreasonable demands of ESPN Star Sports," television viewers in Kerala are bound to suffer as they would have to bear the additional cost.

Asianet had been absorbing the burden of the enhanced payouts in recent years without passing it on to the consumers, the statement said.

"We would like to inform our viewers that the one-day cricket match between India and Bangladesh will be shown simultaneously on Doordarshan," Asianet said.

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