New Delhi, March 9 (PTI): Zee Group today contended before broadcast tribunal TDSAT its rival DTH operator TataSky should not be allowed to pick-and-choose channels, but the Tata-Star venture has said the Subhash Chandra-led firm was forcing it to take "junk channels" that would choke transponder capacity.

"TataSky must be treated in the same manner as they have treated us earlier... there should be no discrimination," Zee Group's counsel said today during proceedings in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal.

It argued there should be no favour for TataSky, a 80:20 joint venture between Tatas and Star India, and it should be treated in the same manner when Zee wanted Star group's feed for its Direct-to-Home platform Dish TV.

TataSky had earlier filed a plea before TDSAT seeking directions to pick and choose channels from Zee-Turner, a 70:30 joint venture between Zee group and Turner India.

"They denied us for the same when we approached them and requested to them to give their signal (Star) on pick and choose method," the ZEE counsel said, adding Star had earlier forced them to take all their 14 channels for Dish TV.

Similar directions should be given to TataSky for equal business opportunities, the counsel said.

"We asked them for their one bouquet only consisting their prime channels, but they simply refused by saying they have a product of 14 channels only for DTH operators," Zee said, adding it was forced to subscribe both the bouquets.

But, TataSky's counsel had yesterday said Zee-Turner was forcing it to take all its channels, ignoring viewers' choice.

"Zee is forcing us to take all of its junk channels and is thus, cramming its limited transponder capacity," the TataSky counsel said, requesting TDSAT to direct regulator TRAI to regulate tariff on DTH platforms.