The government has issued a show-cause notice to sports broadcaster ESPN Software India Private Limited asking it to explain why its downlinking licence should not be revoked for violating guidelines on pricing plan for direct-to-home (DTH) platform.

The sports broadcaster has been given 15 days to respond.


When contacted, ESPN India officials declined to comment.

Earlier, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had recommended to the ministry seeking suspension of ESPN's downlinking licence over the issue. This followed ESPN's resistance against following Trai's directives over pricing of channels offered to DTH operators.

The broadcasting company runs three channels - ESPN, Star Sports and Star Cricket.

Meanwhile, Trai has filed a petition against the sports broadcaster and its senior executives for non-compliance of its directives in Tis Hazari Court, New Delhi.

The counsel for Trai has filed the petition under section 34 Act which says, “Under section 24 Act if directions issued by the authority are not followed; then the authority has a right to complain against the body at fault.”


Earlier on 22 July, 2008 Trai had issued a show-cause notice to ESPN Software India for violation of the direction dated 24 June, 2008 for modification of its reference interconnect offer (RIO) for DTH platforms.

ESPN had earlier contested the sector regulator's pricing policy to DTH operators at 50 per cent below non Cas (conditional access system) cable rates.

The case has been listed for hearing on 27 November.