Zee Turner moves TDSAT against Prasar Bharati

Zee Turner, owner of Zee Cinema, today moved sectoral tribunal the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against a disconnection notice issued by Prasar Bharati, India's only free DTH service provider.

Zee Turner submitted before the TDSAT that the state-owned direct to home (DTH) service provider Prasar Bharati has threatened not to carry its channel but had not given the mandatory 21 days time.

Prasar Bharati has issued notices threatening to disconnect carriage signals of Zee Smile, Zee Jagran and ETC Music-- all Zee Turner channels-- from November 28, 2010.

Senior counsel Maninder Singh appearing for Zee Turner submitted that Prasar Bharati has threatened to stop transmission of its channels though it has paid Rs 80 lakh as enhanced annual carriage charges.

He also sought directions to Prasar Bharati for for carrying Zee Turner's channel on the DTH service on non-discriminatory basis.

The tribunal has posted the matter for further hearing on December 9 and directed Prasar Bharati to file its reply.