The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (Tdsat) has directed direct-to-home (DTH) operator Tata Sky to pay Rs 20 million to Neo Sports within 10 days.

Tata Sky has moved to Tdsat against the sports broadcaster in order to seek its channels as per the rates stipulated in the revised reference-interconnect-offer (RIO) by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on 1 March. The dispute was regarding payment of monthly dues from April onwards.

The counsel for Tata Sky in the petition argued that it would pay as per rates in the RIO notified by Neo Sports on 4 April according to which the subscription charge for the channel is Rs 19.35.

The counsel for Neo Sports argued that the DTH operator should make the payments on the basis of old rates and not as per the RIO rates because the agreement has not been signed between the parties.

Nimbus chairman Harish Thawani was happy about the ruling saying, "We have recovered two thirds of our dues owed to it. Other than that there is no issue with us."

The case has been listed for hearing on 7 January next year.