(28 April 2008 2:00 pm)

NEW DELHI: Orissa-based Ortel Communication's expansion plans to West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh has run into litigation, with the company suing Sun TV, Zee TV and ETV for not giving it their content in those areas.

Three separate cases have been filed in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (Tdsat) involving the three broadcasters, and notices have been issued to the parties.

"We are already operational in Rajarhat (Kolkata), and this experience, gave us the confidence to move into Vizag," a company official says.

Rajarhat is a small and upcoming township adjacent to the upmarket Salt Lake City in Kolkata.

Though Ortel has been in Rajarhat for the past few months, Zee has not given the signals to the MSO. "We have filed a petition against the company in Tdsat, which is slated to be heard on 1 May," the official said.

Ortel is offering all the major channels like Star, Zee, Sony, ESPN and Star Sports in this market. "Sun TV and ETV have been deferring provision of their signal to Ortel's Vizag network since the past four months. We are not getting Gemini, Teja and ETV Telugu. We are, however, getting a few Telugu channels," the official said.

Ortel has filed petitions with the appellate authorities against Gemini TV and ETV for depriving its customers from their signals," the official said

Tdsat has admitted the case and issued notices to the parties. The first hearing will be held on 8 May.

When contacted, a senior official of ETV did not wish to comment on the issue.