MUMBAI: Well, it happened finally. Hinduja Group MSO InCablenet can now virtually qualify as Mumbai's first major free-to-air cable service provider.
The Star network late this evening joined the "cartel" (as InCablenet calls them) of pay broadcasters to switch off the MSO.
After ESPN Star Sports, SET-Discovery, and Zee-Turner on 6 May, Star was the only major pay bouquet left beaming its bouquet of channels on InCablenet in Mumbai. That's all changed now with Star having joined the "cartel".
According to Star India COO Sameer Nair, payment outstandings have piled up since January and with no resolution in sight, Star was forced to black out InCablenet. When asked as to how long he expected this "stalemate" to continue, Nair struck a positive note by saying, "I would be surprised if the stand-off should last very long. It is in the interests of all that the outstandings are cleared so that we can bring back normalcy to the situation."
Industry sources say InCablenet's total dues owed to different broadcasters are: ESS Rs 30 million, SET-Discovery Rs 40 million, Zee-Turner Rs 3.7 million and Star Rs 40 million+.
Cartel or no cartel, this is turning into a public relations disaster fast running out of control for InCablenet. With consumer ire against Mumbai's biggest MSO mounting and serious rumblings being reported from among its franchisees, how all this will play out remains to be seen.

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