MUMBAI: On 8 August, several trade publications were splashed with headlines stating that Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) was close to acquiring the Subhash Chandra-owned Zee Networks’ sports network Ten Sports. The news was also carried by Times of India’s tabloid Mirror. The Economic Times from the same group too published a similar report, with no confirmation from either of the parties involved. SPNI sources had told ET that they do not comment on speculation. But the price mentioned in the news item for the transaction was Rs 2,000 crore.

Indiantelevision.com too reported that the news had been carried by the two newspapers. But it committed to get to the n two channels and get their revert on the same.

We did yesterday. And both the networks have denied that any deal was at closure stage.

A member of the senior strategy team at Sony spoke candidly when he told us: “There is nothing to comment. These all are false speculations there is no basis to these reports.”

Ten Sports CEO Rajesh Seth did not mince any words when he spoke with us. Said he: "In the company, we keep talking and exploring various opportunities that are right for the organisation but the discussion does not mean that it will go in that direction The news is pure speculation.”