BANGALORE / MUMBAI: A face-off over declarations that threatened to deny a section of Bangalore viewers access to the ongoing tri-nation cricket series in Sri Lanka has been resolved after intervention from the disputes tribunal.
 

Bangalore's ICE2 Network took its complaint to TDSAT (Telecom Disputes Settlement Appelate Tribunal) after the signals for 14 channels - including Ten Sports which is broadcasting the cricket series - that form the One Alliance bouquet, were blocked. Incable, the One Alliance's distributor in Bangalore, cut off signals to the ICE2 Network following a dispute over subscriber declarations.

Speaking with Indiantelevison.com, ICE2 Network managing director TS Kamal Kumar says, "We've made a payment of Rs 250,000 within half an hour of the TDSAT decision yesterday. We were told that the signal would resume within 24 hours of payment."
 
 

One Alliance president Anuj Gandhi confirmed the news to Indiantelevision.com saying that the signal had been cut as dues were outstanding. However, since the money was paid as had been directed by the tribunal, the signal would be restored.

"We have declared 4,400 connections," said Kamal, while rubbishing the figure of 8,500 that appeared in some sections of the local press. Kamal also refused to discuss the number of cable operators under his operation.

'The signals are on, we are disputing the number of declarations," confirmed Pratap Wadhwa of Incable Bangalore while not disclosing anything further in the matter.

ICE2 provides cable services to Jayanagar, BTM Layout, Bommasandra, Madivala, Whitefield, Rajajinagar and some other areas in Bangalore.

At every such mess up, DTH seems to be gaining numbers. Reportedly 8,000 people have opted for DTH connections in Bangalore over the last nine months.