Sony–IMCL Spat: Telecom Tribunal Orders Companies To Enter Written Agreement Within A Month

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has ordered broadcaster Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) and IndusInd Media and Communications Ltd (IMCL) to enter into a written agreement within 20 days from 30 October, TelevisionPost has reported.

The written agreement should be either on the basis of negotiated terms or RIO terms. The older agreement between two parties ended in June 2018. When fresh talks between the parties failed the broadcaster issued a disconnection notice against IMCL. Due to this act of SPNI, IMCL moved TDSAT against the disconnection notices.

The tribunal also stated that the issue of pending dues will not impact IMCL if it pays an amount of Rs. 13.28 crore within 20 days. IMCL will get time till November 2018 to clear dues.

IMCL claims that its dues could not be more than Rs. 9.78 crore, while Sony has claimed that outstanding dues till September 2018 are more than Rs. 13.28. Next hearing of the case is scheduled for 29 November.