Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd has complained to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting alleging violation of extant DAS Regulations and breach of licence conditions by DEN Networks Ltd.

In a letter dated February 27, ZEEL has alleged that that DEN is supplying signals in an unencrypted and non-addressable mode in DAS notified areas, which is contrary to the licensing conditions and violation of DAS Regulations.

Piracy of channels

In addition, ZEEL has also submitted video recordings to MIB as an evidence to show that DEN is taking channels from a DTH Set Top Box and re-transmitting the channels through its cable networks in an unencrypted and non-addressable mode. ZEEL has stated that this amounts to piracy of channels which is not only an offence under the Copyright Act, 1957, but also specifically prohibited under the Programme Code as provided in the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994.

The complaint alleged that the actions of DEN are not only adversely impacting the broadcasters but also causing revenue loss to the public exchequer.

“ I am surprised to hear this. We haven’t received any notice and in fact recently BECIL (Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited) conducted our audit and gave us a clean chit. Because we have put Zee channels on a-la-carte, they are not happy and coming out with such frivolous cases. We follow the law of the land," said   SN Sharma, CEO, DEN Networks, on the allegations made against the company by ZEE Entertainment.

In January, TDSAT had ordered Den Networks Ltd to continue telecasting ZEE channels as per the agreement which expired on December 31, 2017. It also ordered DEN to pay ₹10 crore fine to ZEE.

DEN Networks and ZEE Entertainment were in TDSAT due to non-renewal of their commercial arrangement which expired on December 31, 2017.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW