Chennai: Leading Multi-System Operators (MSOs) TCCL, VK Digital, and SCV have removed the Star Value pack from their base pack effective from April 7th, 2023, due to a disagreement over the pricing of the channels under NTO 3.0.
The Star Value pack from Disney Star consists of the top GEC Star Vijay, Star Sports Tamil, and other channels like NGC and Hungama dubbed in the Tamil language. According to a senior executive familiar with the industry developments, MSOs refused to accept the rate hike imposed by Disney Star India as part of the implementation of NTO 3.0.
Sources revealed that Disney Star India increased the ‘Star Value Pack’ from Rs 29 to Rs 45, which was not agreeable to the MSOs. As negotiations failed to yield any result until yesterday evening, the MSOs decided to remove the Star Value Pack from their base pack effective from this morning.
Together, the three MSOs TCCL (2.9 million), VK Digital (1.6 million), and SCV (2 million) control over 6.5 million cable homes out of 10 million cable homes in Tamil Nadu. With this, channels that are part of the ‘Star Value Pack’ will be out of the base packs from 65 percent of cable homes in Tamil Nadu. However, as per NTO 3.0, subscribers can choose any channel on an a-la-carte basis.
The block out of leading channels like Star Vijay and Star Sports Tamil from base packs will hugely impact the TRP ratings of the channels. The parties are likely to sit across for further negotiations today.
