Sony sports channels go off Manthan

KOLKATA: As India locked horns with Australia in arguably the year’s most high-profile cricket series that got off to an enthralling start in Adelaide on Thursday, nearly 2 lakh cable TV subscribers in Kolkata missed the action. MSO Manthan had its

Sony sports channels

blacked out on Wednesday evening following a payment dispute with the broadcaster. This is the fourth major channel blackout on Manthan this year and the second time that Sony blocked its channels on the MSO’s platform. During the FIFA World Cup in June-July, Manthan subscribers had to endure a monthlong blackout that started in the middle of a high-voltage match.


A sizeable section of city cricket enthusiasts was greeted by blank screens on Thursday. Even as Cheteshwar Pujara waged a lone battle against the Aussie pace battery, Manthan subscribers were left calling the cable operators to find out why they were being deprived. “There’s nothing like an India-Australia Test match. I had waited for it for the last three months only to miss the first day’s action. Now, it seems that I will miss the entire series. My cable operator says the dispute may not be resolved this month,” said Samrat Ray, a Manthan subscriber.

All sports channels of Sony bouquet — Sony Six, Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 3 and Sony ESPN — have been withdrawn. Sony Six and Sony Ten 3 are broadcasting the India-Australia series. Sony’s entertainment channels, including Sony TV, SET Max, SET Max 2, Sony Yay and Sony Pix, remain on air on Manthan.

Manthan owes Rs 50 crore-Rs 55 crore to three major broadcasters — Sony, Star TV and Zee TV, according to industry sources. “Manthan has run into a financial crisis from which it hasn’t been able to come out. It has led to at least six blackouts in last two years. Not only are subscribers being cheated, but cable operators, too, are finding it difficult to stick to the MSO due to repeated blackouts. Many have shifted to other MSOs and many more will follow soon,” said an industry veteran.

Manthan’s list of sports channels flashed their prices on blank screens. Some cable operators claimed that since channels will have to be subscribed to on an ala carte basis from January, they have been taken off till fresh subscription. But industry sources rubbished the claim. “The ala carte system of subscription has got nothing to do with the blackout. This is purely the result of non-payment of dues,” said an MSO official. Neither Sony nor Manthan officials could be reached for comments.