DD Sports has not hiked subscription: Distributor

PUNE: Modi Entertainment Limited (MEL) has alleged that the Pune Associated Cable (PAC) network has been misleading subscribers about the increase in the subscription fee of DD Sports.
A statement by Bhavesh Gorasia, a representative of MEL, which distributes channel categorically said DD Sports had not hiked its fee from Rs 9.55 to Rs 27.80, as claimed by PAC director Vasant Patwardhan.The latter gave the hike as a reason for blocking the channel.
Gorasia has stated that the channel was priced at Rs 7.15 and the fee was hiked to Rs 8.95 from October 2.
"If the PAC had been collecting Rs 9.55 per month from each subscriber as claimed by Patwardhan, then where did the extra money go," Gorasia asked. He also pointed out that the PAC should have no problem paying the revised fee of Rs 8.95.
Gorasia alleged that the PAC had huge outstanding dues. Although they have collected the fees from subscribers, they have not paid the same to the broadcasters, he said.
Gorasia said the subscribers have the right to receive the channel for which they have been paying. Expressing surprise over the Indian channel getting blocked, he said the cable operators did not mind paying Rs 24 to get foreign sports channels.