ESPN asked to comply with signal sharing rules

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today asked ESPN to immediately restore signals of its sports channel to the Maharashtra-based Shah Cable Network.

The broadcaster has also been asked to comply with TRAI rules and furnish a compliance report within two days.

ESPN had discontinued signals of its sports channel Star Sports, alleging that the cable operator was re-transmitting them to hotels and commercial properties, which was not a part of the contract.

The regulator, however, pointed out that in case of a dispute, the broadcaster would still have to give three- week notice to the cable operator, as well as put out notices, one in a regional language, in two local newspapers.

The same also applies to cable operators, who are not allowed to stop retransmission of any channel without a three-week notice to the broadcaster.