• Raj TV launches teleport facility

    In what is claimed to be a first in India, the Tamil language channel Raj TV today launched a teleport facility in th

  • Home Cable claims it has issued legal notice to ESPN

    Submitted by ITV Production on Oct 11, 2001

    Home Cable Network Ltd today said it had issued a legal notice to ESPN Software India Ltd. for releasing on 9 October what it claimed was a defamatory press release against it. It also said it had sent a similar notice to financial daily Business Standard for publishing the press release without cross-checking.

    The ESPN release stated Delhi‘s district court had on the same day ruled in favour of the sports channel in a case filed by the Delhi-based cable network.

    Home Cable today issued a press statement giving its version of events and said "the court case had been amicably settled between the parties before the district court and transmission of the ESPN and Star Sports channels to Home Cable was restored by ESPN Software India Ltd."

    Home Cable contends that despite the settlement before the court, ESPN Software had incorrectly represented to the press that it had won the case.

    Home Cable says it had entered into a services contract with ESPN Software for receiving signal of ESPN and Star Sports channels for its viewers. It had been paying regularly an amount of Rs 38,400 towards monthly subscription fee for the ESPN and Star Sports channels. In addition, installments towards the IRD decoders were also being paid regularly to ESPN Software.

    On 5 October 2001, ESPN Software, without any notice, demanded Rs 16,000 from Home Cable and threatened that it would disconnect the ESPN and Star Sports channels in case their demand was not met, the statement says. Since the demand of ESPN Software was without prior notice and not in accordance with the terms agreed upon, Home Cable did not pay up, the statement says.

    The same evening the ESPN and Star Sports channel feeds were disconnected. Home Cable moved court the next day seeking a permanent injunction against ESPN Software and restoration of the ESPN and Star Sports channel, the statement says .

    The court on 6 October issued a notice to ESPN Software and its agent Arjun Enterprises (distributes ESPN and Star Sports in Delhi). Their legal representatives appeared before the court on 8 October. The judge adjourned the matter for filing of written statement, reply and disposal of the application for interim injunction filed by Home Cable to 9 October.

    On 9 October a compromise proposal was put forward by ESPN Software which HomeCable, keeping the interest of its valued subscribers, accepted, the statement says. The case was withdrawn after an undertaking given by ESPN Software to restore the ESPN and Star Sports Channel by 2 p.m. on 10 October.

    ESPN spokesperson when queried about the notice, reiterated that the dispute was settled only after Home Cable gave an undertaking that henceforce it would not provide unauthorised feeds of ESPN and STAR Sports signals to hotels or similar establishments. Further, Home Cable also agreed to abide by all the terms of the existing contract and settled all outstanding dues in court before the feed was restored, the spokesperson asserted.

  • Home Cable claims it has issued legal notice to ESPN

    Home Cable Network Ltd today said it had issued a legal notice to ESPN Software India Ltd.

  • Alcatel Spacecom, Arianespace buy 13 % stake in Agrani for $ 20 m

    Submitted by ITV Production on Oct 10, 2001

    International satellite major Alcatel Spacecom and the European rocket launch agency Arianespace have cleared the decks to buy into the Subhash Chandra-promoted Agrani Satellite Services Ltd (ASSL).

    International satellite major Alcatel Spacecom and the European rocket launch agency Arianespace have cleared the decks to buy into the Subhash Chandra-promoted Agrani Satellite Services Ltd (ASSL).

    It is understood from FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotional Board) sources that Alcatel Spacecom and Arianespace have made individual submissions to the board for their investments in ASSL to the tune of $15 million (9.75 per cent) and $ 5 million (3.25 per cent) respectively for a combined 13 per cent stake in the Rs 1,1500-million satellite project.

    The submissions were made yesterday. These individual submissions are under the overall umbrella of up to 74 per cent FDI (foreign direct investment) approved by FIPB on 3rd October. This follows the clearance given on 21 September by the cabinet committee for economic affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, for the proposed investment.

    Meanwhile, ASSL is reportedly in talks with a global satellite major for an alliance involving technical, commercial and operational cooperation and a minimum investment of 26 per cent in the company.

    ASSL is raising funds for the project at a 1.5:1 (Rs 6900 million: Rs 4600 million) debt equity ratio. Chandra has committed to underwriting the Rs 4600 million if the amount cannot be raised through other sources, as well as expenditures already incurred.

    As of now the lead financier for the project from India is the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI), which has sanctioned Rs 3,000 million. The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has cleared another Rs 750 million for the project.

    With this latest infusion, ASSL expects to close debt financing of the project by end-October or early-November.

    Alcatel is supplying the satellite which will be delivered 19 months after financial closure. The satellite, with a life-span of 14 years, has 24 ?C? band and 14 ?ku? band transponders. The promoters expect the project to be cash positive at the start of the second year of operations.

  • Alcatel Spacecom, Arianespace buy 13 % stake in Agrani for $ 20 m

    International satellite major Alcatel Spacecom and the European rocket launch agency Arianespace have cleared the dec

  • American artistes show united front through yet another planned spectacular

    Submitted by ITV Production on Oct 10, 2001

    Concerts to show solidarity with victims of the terrorist attacks in America appear to be the order of the day. The latest one is happening comes courtesy Clear Channel Entertainment which will bear the cost of production. The concert is called ‘United We Stand‘. The eight-hour music festival will be held Sunday, October 21, at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC, beginning at noon EST.

    It is widely acknowledged that music is the language that people listen to triumph and sadness. Some artistes who have already confirmed their participation include the King of Pop Michael Jackson, Rolling Stones legend Mick Jagger, the group that never gets old Aerosmith, boy group N‘SYNC and the man who loves to live la vida loca Ricky Martin.

    Sale of Tickets will commence from Friday and will be available by visiting all Ticketmaster outlets or www.CC.com. Money raised will be donated to the American Red Cross Relief Fund, the Pentagon Relief Fund and The Salvation Army Relief Fund.

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