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A statement issued by ESS even provides a toll free number on
which viewers can call to get Dish TV installed.
ESS accuses Hathway of refusing to "respond to all efforts
made to resolve the pending outstanding issue." ESS has further
charged that Hathway has not paid the monthly subscription fees
due to it since February and has not honored various commitments
made, including the signing of a service contract. ESS' argument
is that it has been "left with no choice but to discontinue
its services to Hathway till the outstanding amount is realized
and a service contract is executed."
Countering ESS' assertions, a release issued by Hathway late this
evening has termed the sports broadcaster's contention as "mala
fide, baseless and false." Putting forth its case, the statement
issued by the MSO says, "During the past few years Hathway
has paid subscription fee in excess of Rs 40 crores (Rs 400 million)
to ESS. It is surprising that ESS is wrongly publishing malicious
propaganda against Hathway. In the last several years not a single
pay channel broadcaster has shut off signals to Hathway. Hathway
has always been prompt and regular in its dealings with all broadcasters
including ESS."
"The current dispute is a deliberate ploy by ESS arbitrarily
seeking to hike the monthly rates in violation of the TRAI order,
which has frozen all the pay channels rates as well as the cable
subscription fee," Hathway has stated, further accusing it
of refusing "to accept Hathway's cheques deliberately to instigate
a crisis."
Whatever may be the contentions of the two parties to this dispute,
the fact is that soccer and tennis enthusiasts who subscribe to
Hathway are missing out on the Euro 2004 and Wimbledon action.
Also Read:
Dues
dispute: ESS cuts Hathway feed in certain areas
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