The tussle between Essel Group's Dish TV and Tata-Sky (the 80:20 direct-to-home (DTH) joint venture between the Tata Group and Star India) has ended with both the groups planning to offer each others' channels on their respective DTH platforms.

Tata-Sky, targeting a launch by July 1, has already entered into an agreement with Zee Telefilms, a part of the Essel Group, to beam their channels.

Highly-placed sources told FE, "Tata Sky has already entered into a non-disclosure agreement with Zee, and is planning to offer their channels on the Tata-Sky platform." On the other hand, Dish TV is also set to offer the Star Group of channels on their platform. Dish TV CEO Sunil Khanna said, "Discussions are going on with Star. We have asked them to give us a commercial offer."

Star has been refusing to offer their channels through Dish TV, the first DTH platform in India, since Dish TV's inception in October 2003. This was since Star was itself gearing up for its own DTH launch. This is despite Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) making it mandatory that all channels be made available on a non-discriminatory basis to all platforms. According to industry experts, Dish TV not beaming channels of the Star Group is a clear disadvantage for them. Star Plus has many popular programmes, including soaps from Balaji Telefilms, which are ruling the roost in television rating points (TRPs).

At the same time, Zee too has several popular channels, including the flagship Zee TV. The melting of ice between the two companies would, therefore, be beneficial to both.

Dish TV at present offers 130 channels, while Tata-Sky is planning to offer a little more than 100 channels to its subscribers. Earlier this week, Dish TV launched a scheme which brings a new connection at Rs 3,990, inclusive of subscription fee for a year and the set top box. This move is aimed at taking Tata-Sky head on, feel observers. Tata-Sky officials refused to reveal details of their pricing.

( www.financialexpress.com)