Music airplay: ETC, T-Series at loggerheads

Music airplay: ETC, T-Series at loggerheads

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MUMBAI: The Zee Network owned music channels ETC and Zee Music have decided to take on T-Series, the audio company which controls a large of chunk of the Bollywood music market, over what they assert are pending dues amounting to over Rs 70 million.

ETC Networks has issued a notice declaring that it has "with immediate effect stopped accepting bookings for telecasting of film trailers and promos of film and non film music from Super Cassette Industries Ltd (T-Series)."

Countering the charge, T-Series has denied any outstandings and has retaliated by claiming that it is Zee that has infringed on the intellectual property rights of the entire film industry, including T-Series.

The ETC release, meanwhile, points out, "All concerned producers who have made bookings through Super Cassette Industries may kindly note that their trailers and promos will not be telecast by us on account of deliberate and purposeful default of payment."

ETC has also highlighted that "all producers who are interested in telecasting their film trailers and promos of film and non film music with immediate effect as well as in future are requested to directly approach the company." The statement further says that ETC is ready to provide "new revised and reduced rates and terms" specially for producers.

T-Series holds the audio rights of some big upcoming releases in 2006 including Babul, Salaam-e Ishq, Jaaneman and the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Don, so how the face-off plays out could well have far-reaching implications across the industry.