NEW DELHI: Even as Indian multi system operator (MSO) DEN Networks is looking at doing away with joint venture partnerships in Phase III and IV of digitization by taking the direct distribution route, its existing joint venture partners across the country are up in arms.

In a meeting of DEN’s JV partners held in Delhi, they alleged that DEN indulges in different financial and other arrangements with partners all over the country.

According to information available with Indiantelevision.com, the grievance of Den’s JV partners is that while for some JVs the agreement was on a 50:50 basis, for others it was 51:49 or 60:40.

The JV partners, who also formed the DEN India JV Partners Association in their meeting here, said that there was no transparency in the deals with different JV partners.

Speaking to this website, Association spokesperson and Mumbai-based DEN Satellite Network JV partner Ravi Singh said that the comfort level with DEN was missing and the Association wanted DEN to deal with all partners on an equal footing.

DEN has a presence across the country in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand through multiple JV deals.

At the meeting held in Delhi, around twenty JV shareholders from all over the country were present.

Repeated attempts to get reactions from the DEN Network management were futile.