ITV

Tag: Independent TV

  • Independent TV admits total liabilities of Rs 3.65 cr towards Indiacast

    Independent TV admits total liabilities of Rs 3.65 cr towards Indiacast

    MUMBAI: Troubled DTH operator Independent TV has admitted its total liabilities of Rs 3.65 crore towards Indiacast Media Distribution Pvt Ltd, as per a Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) order.

    “Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that notice has been validly served upon respondent and, therefore, prayer for interim relief may be considered today on the basis of contents of Annexure P-14 which, prima facie, shows that respondent has admitted the total liabilities to Rs 3.65 crore,” TDSAT said in the order.

    Prateek Gupta, the advocate on behalf of Independent TV prayed for a short adjournment to seek instructions in respect of interim prayer and to file a reply within two weeks.

    TDSAT has allowed the prayer post the matter for next hearing on 16 September. The order also added that Indiacast may file its rejoinder before the next date.

  • Independent TV to resume DTH service any day after 21 August

    Independent TV to resume DTH service any day after 21 August

    MUMBAI: DTH operator Independent TV has extended the resumption of its service further. The operator has stated on its website that they expect to go live any day after August 21, next week. The network was supposed to resume its service from August 15 in its new ITV 2.0 avatar .

    Explaining the reason to its customers the company said, “Our technical teams are working to re-establish our satellite network for resumption of our DTH services. Heavy rains at Mumbai have damaged our Network at Mumbai and also the link between Mumbai head-end and Bangalore uplink location, we are working on repairing the same overtime.”

    “We expect to go live any day after 21st August, next week. As per our resumption services, customers will be required to do re-validation of their connection through our mobile application, details of which will be made available on the landing page. Additionally, due credit will be given to customers for the period of disconnection in their wallet. We regret the inconvenience being caused till then,” said Independent TV.

    Last week, TDSAT had directed, Independent TV to pay up to Rs 12 crore in order to get signals reconnected by Antrix Corporation. The operator was also directed to pay Rs 5.83 crore along with a bank guarantee of Rs 6 crore or furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 12 crore valid for at least two months for the restoration of transponder service.

    The operator had faced disconnection of its signals post a tussle with its service provider, Antrix Corporation over non-payment of dues.

  • Independent TV’s service remains unavailable due to failure of payment to Antrix

    Independent TV’s service remains unavailable due to failure of payment to Antrix

    MUMBAI: The service of troubled DTH operator Independent TV still remains unavailable as it has neither made the required payment nor furnished the bank guarantee to Antrix Corporation for reconnection of signals.

    The DTH operator’s signals were disconnected by Antrix on 12 June due to non-payment of outstanding dues. While Independent TV had filed an application before the tribunal to direct Antrix to resume supply of signals, TDSAT had directed Independent TV to pay up to Rs 12 crore in order to get signals reconnected by Antrix Corporation.

    The DTH operator was directed by TDSAT to pay Rs 5.83 crore along with a bank guarantee of Rs 6 crore or furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 12 crore valid for at least two months for the restoration of transponder service.

    “Since the petitioner has not been able to make the required payments or furnishing the bank guarantee, as indicated in the last order passed on 2.7.2019, the resumption of supply of signals has not happened. Petitioner should make the payments at the earliest,” TDSAT said in its order on Thursday.

    Moreover, the interim renewal of DTH licence to the operator has been suspended by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the present and would be reconsidered only on the basis of retransmission of channels.

  • MIB suspends interim renewal of licence of Independent TV

    MIB suspends interim renewal of licence of Independent TV

    MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has temporarily suspended the interim renewal of license of DTH operator Independent TV until it resumes transmission. Indiantelevision.com has learnt from sources close to the development that the renewal would be reconsidered only on the basis of retransmission of channels.

    MIB has also directed the troubled DTH operator in a communication to take immediate steps to settle the grievances faced by consumers within a tight time frame and an external audit as well. It has also restricted the soliciting of new customers until retransmission of channels.

    Independent TV abruptly shut its services more than a month ago creating confusion among consumers. As a result of failure of payment to Antrix Corporation directed by Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), the  DTH operator’s service is still unavailable. 

    The DTH operator’s signals were disconnected by Antrix on 12 June due to non-payment of outstanding dues. While Independent TV had filed an application before the tribunal to direct Antrix to resume supply of signals, TDSAT had directed Independent TV to pay up to Rs 12 crore in order to get signals reconnected.

  • IndiaCast Media Distribution issues notice to Independent TV in TDSAT

    IndiaCast Media Distribution issues notice to Independent TV in TDSAT

    MUMBAI: Content distribution network IndiaCast Media Distribution has issued a notice to DTH operator Independent TV in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). The tribunal has asked for a reply within two weeks.

    The order from TDSAT said if the notices are served, interim prayer may be considered on the next date. The matter has been listed “for directions” on 23 August.

    Independent TV’s signals were disconnected in June because of financial issues with Antrix. However, it is scheduled to be re-launched as ITV 2.0 for channel partners in the first week of August and the signals will be restored for customers from 15 August.

  • Independent TV to resume DTH service on 15 August in ITV 2.0 avatar

    Independent TV to resume DTH service on 15 August in ITV 2.0 avatar

    MUMBAI: DTH operator Independent TV, whose signals were disconnected last month because of financial issues with Antrix, will be resuming services once again from the month of August. It will be re-launched as ITV 2.0 for channel partners from the first week of the coming month and the signals will be restored for customers from 15 August.

    As addressed by Independent TV director and CEO Vivek Prakash in a letter, the service provider is making a comeback with a well-defined plan being led by its SSD. It includes training of ZD and SSD engineers to replace and repair STBs.

    The STBs, which were returned to the sellers or are in stock with SSDs will be repaired and used to replace the ones at the customers’ house. The SSDs have been directed to complete this process by 31 October 2019.

    It will further start selling new connections from the month of September.

    The announcement comes a few days after TRAI questioned Independent TV over pending funds of consumers and directed it to ensure the compliance of various provisions of the new regulatory framework.

    Independent TV had faced disconnection of its signals post a tussle with its service provider, Antrix Corporation, over non-payment of dues. While Antrix has encashed the bank guarantees worth Rs 15 crore under the matter, TDSAT had further directed Independent TV to either pay cash of Rs 5.83 crore with Rs 6 crore worth of bank guarantees to Antrix or furnish Rs 12 crore worth of bank guarantees to the service provider to resume the connection.

  • Independent TV to re-launch as ITV 2.0 in August

    Independent TV to re-launch as ITV 2.0 in August

    MUMBAI: DTH operator Independent TV, whose signals were disconnected last month because of financial issues with Antrix, will be resuming services once again from the month of August. It will be re-launched as ITV 2.0 for channel partners from the first week of the coming month and the signals will be restored for customers from 15 August.

    As addressed by Independent TV director and CEO Vivek Prakash in a letter, the service provider is making a comeback with a well-defined plan being led by its SSD. It includes training of ZD and SSD engineers to replace and repair STBs.

    The STBs, which were returned to the sellers or are in stock with SSDs will be repaired and used to replace the ones at the customers’ house. The SSDs have been directed to complete this process by 31 October 2019.

    It will further start selling new connections from the month of September.

    The announcement comes a few days after TRAI questioned Independent TV over pending funds of consumers and directed it to ensure the compliance of various provisions of the new regulatory framework.

    Independent TV had faced disconnection of its signals post a tussle with its service provider, Antrix Corporation, over non-payment of dues. While Antrix has encashed the bank guarantees worth Rs 15 crore under the matter, TDSAT had further directed Independent TV to either pay cash of Rs 5.83 crore with Rs 6 crore worth of bank guarantees to Antrix or furnish Rs 12 crore worth of bank guarantees to the service provider to resume the connection.

  • TRAI vs Independent TV: DTH operator questioned by regulator over consumer complaints

    TRAI vs Independent TV: DTH operator questioned by regulator over consumer complaints

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked DTH operator Independent TV to provide information related to pending refund of consumers due to non-provision of services. It has five days to respond to the regulator.

    In its recent notification, TRAI directed independent TV to ensure the compliance of various provisions of the new regulatory framework for broadcasting and cable TV services. The authority has asked the DTH operator to give information on the following issues for the six months up to 30 June 2019:

    a) How many connection requests are pending beyond seven days after receipt of payments/subscription from the consumers?

    b) How many complaints are still pending regarding refund not provided?

    c) In how many cases the refund has been provided to the consumer due to non-provision of services despite collecting the money in advance? Give the number of cases along with the amount refunded.

    d) Whether any channel has been removed from your platform without giving prior intimation to the consumer.

    e) Whether the services have been resumed after the blackout issue.

    f) Whether any rebate has been provided to the affected subscribers during the blackout period. If yes, how much rebate has been provided?

    In its direction to Independent TV, the authority informed that it has received numerous consumer complaints wherein the subscribers have complained that Independent TV has discontinued channels opted for by the subscribers and that the operator is neither providing services to the consumers despite collecting the money in advance nor any refund has been made to the consumers.

    The company was launched in 2018 and was active in the state of Uttar Pradesh and had 26 distributors in just Meerut and Saharanpur division. It had more than 90 thousand subscribers in the division.

    Independent TV’s services were supposed to resume on 3 July. The company’s case is pending in the TDSAT. The authority had ordered Independent TV to clear its dues to Antrix by 12 June or face disconnection.

  • Independent TV questioned by TRAI over pending refund of consumers

    Independent TV questioned by TRAI over pending refund of consumers

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked DTH operator Independent TV to provide information related to pending refund of consumers due to non-provision of services. It has five days to respond to the regulator.

    In its recent notification, TRAI directed independent TV to ensure the compliance of various provisions of the new regulatory framework for broadcasting and cable TV services. The authority has asked the DTH operator to give information on the following issues for the six months up to 30 June 2019:

    a) How many connection requests are pending beyond seven days after receipt of payments/subscription from the consumers?

    b) How many complaints are still pending regarding refund not provided?

    c) In how many cases the refund has been provided to the consumer due to non-provision of services despite collecting the money in advance? Give the number of cases along with the amount refunded.

    d) Whether any channel has been removed from your platform without giving prior intimation to the consumer.

    e) Whether the services have been resumed after the blackout issue.

    f) Whether any rebate has been provided to the affected subscribers during the blackout period. If yes, how much rebate has been provided?

    In its direction to Independent TV, the authority informed that it has received numerous consumer complaints wherein the subscribers have complained that Independent TV has discontinued channels opted for by the subscribers and that the operator is neither providing services to the consumers despite collecting the money in advance nor any refund has been made to the consumers.

    The company was launched in 2018 and was active in the state of Uttar Pradesh and had 26 distributors in just Meerut and Saharanpur division. It had more than 90 thousand subscribers in the division.

    Independent TV’s services were supposed to resume on 3 July. The company’s case is pending in the TDSAT. The authority had ordered Independent TV to clear its dues to Antrix by 12 June or face disconnection.

  • TDSAT directs Independent TV to provide Rs 12 cr as bank guarantee to restore signals from Antrix

    TDSAT directs Independent TV to provide Rs 12 cr as bank guarantee to restore signals from Antrix

    MUMBAI: In a further development to the Independent TV v/s Antrix Corporation Ltd case, the former has been asked by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to either pay Rs 5.83 crore along with a bank guarantee of Rs 6 crore or furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 12 crore to the latter to get its connection restored. The case has been set for further hearing on 7 August.

    Antrix had disconnected the signals of the DTH service-provider on 12 June due to its inability to meet financial conditions and had encashed the Rs 15 crore bank guarantee given by Independent TV post the last hearing in the case.

    Independent TV had filed an MA requesting the tribunal to direct Antrix to reconnect the signals as well as to enter into a long-term lease agreement with the petitioner since it has now received the required licence by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on certain conditions and the licence is valid till 31 December 2019.

    TDSAT noted that negotiations for a long-term lease agreement will take some time and some financial conditions must be established so as to secure the payment of the latest invoice raised by Antrix towards arrears which are Rs 5.83 crore.

    As contested by Antrix, the dues for a month of consumption would create a further liability of around Rs 5 crore and therefore, Independent TV should either pay the arrears forthwith or furnish bank guarantees for not less than the amounts indicated above i.e. around Rs 11 crore.  According to the submissions, the best case would be to direct the petitioner to furnish bank guarantee so as to cover the three months of space segment charges.

    “Considering that the petitioner (Independent TV) has been facing financial difficulties which led to disconnection as already noted, we are of the view that resumption of facilities in favour of the petitioner should be made available only on petitioner either paying the amount of Rs 5.83 crore along with a bank guarantee of Rs 6 crore or on furnishing a bank guarantee of Rs 12 crore valid for at least two months.  As soon as the petitioner complies with this part and furnishes the bank guarantee or makes the payment, respondent no. 1 (Antrix) shall reconnect the signals,” said TDSAT in its order.

    It further added, “Since the main prayer of the petitioner is a direction to Antrix to enter into a long term lease agreement, we direct both the parties to enter into negotiations so that a final decision in this regard may be taken at an early date, preferably within four weeks from the date of resumption of supply of signals. It goes without saying that if a long-term lease agreement is executed, the respondents will be protected by the financial conditions for the same.  In case a long-term lease agreement is not executed within the said period, the respondent no. 1 should disclose the reasons through an affidavit to be filed by the next date.  Necessary interim orders for payments etc. may be reconsidered on the next date.”