GECs
Star shuts feeds to IN Cable in Mumbai; MSO says it has moved court
Star India this evening switched off all its feeds to IN Cable in Mumbai city over what it said were unpaid payments going back three months and a massive under-declaration of its subscriber base on the part of the multi-systems operator (MSO). IN Cable on its part claimed it had filed a court case against what it termed were “predatory practices” by broadcasters.
IN Cable CEO Ram Hingorani said that Star, ESPN and AXN – the action channel from the Sony Entertainment Television’s stable – had all ganged up and formed a cartel against it. Hingorani alleged that SET India has also switched off its AXN decoders in the IN Cable headends but Sony officials could not be contacted for details at the time of posting this report.
According to Yash Khanna, Star’s corporate communications head, the shut-off was the culmination of a long-standing dispute with IN Cable over its declared connectivity. “IN Cable claims 1.5 million subscribers when chasing advertising, but when they come back to us they say the figure is less than 150,000. That’s not even 10 per cent of their actual subscriber base,” Khanna pointed out.
There is also the issue of nonpayment of dues, Khanna said. “IN Cable has been seeking more time to pay its dues for the last three months now. We decided that enough was enough,” he added.
The shutoff comes close on the heels of the blanking out of sports channels, ESPN and Star Sports, by the ESPN-Star Sports management following a tussle over subscription bases on 7 June. The shutoff had caused a lot of consternation among viewers because it happened just before the start of the India-Zimbabwe Test cricket series.
During the recently held England-Pakistan one-day series, ESPN-Star Sports went to the extent of announcing that any subscriber of IN Cablenet watching the transmission of the match was doing something illegal as it was a pirated signal and an act such as this was liable for penal action.
This hasn’t prevented local sub-ops affiliated to IN Cable from stealing the ESPN Star Sports signal though, from other cable operators.
Hingorani could not be reached later for more details on his version of the events despite repeated attempts. Apparently, he is scheduled to meet with the Star distribution team to sort out the issue tomorrow morning.
GECs
Sony PAL to air Sankat Mochan Hanuman from May 4 at 9 PM
Mythological series brings Lord Hanuman’s tale of devotion and courage back to TV
MUMBAI: Sony PAL is set to bring back the timeless mythological series Sankat Mochan Hanuman, with its premiere scheduled for May 4 at 9 PM. The show revisits the legendary journey of Lord Hanuman, offering viewers a chance to reconnect with one of Indian mythology’s most revered figures.
Centred on themes of devotion, courage and righteousness, the series traces Hanuman’s unwavering loyalty to Lord Ram and his fearless stand against evil. With its mix of dramatic storytelling and visually rich sequences, the show aims to deliver both entertainment and spiritual resonance, appealing to audiences across age groups.
The narrative unfolds as a larger-than-life saga, positioning Hanuman as the ultimate protector and a symbol of strength and selfless service. His journey, rooted in faith and duty, continues to strike a chord with viewers, making the series as relevant today as ever.
The cast features Gagan Malik as Lord Ram, Debalina Chatterjee as Sita, Nirbhay Wadhwa in the titular role, and Saurav Gurjar as Raavan. Their performances bring depth and authenticity to characters deeply embedded in Indian cultural memory.
With its return to television, the show is positioned as more than just a rerun. It taps into a renewed appetite for mythological storytelling, blending nostalgia with timeless values.
As audiences increasingly seek content that resonates beyond entertainment, ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman’ offers a familiar yet powerful narrative, reminding viewers that stories of faith and courage never really go out of style.
