The TDSAT has directed sports broadcaster ESPN India to supply its signals to Sun Direct at half the cable rates specified by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Headed by Justice Arun Kumar, the Telecom Disputes and Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) said, “The sports broadcaster will supply signals as per the directions to TRAI of its channels within one week from the date of the order passed on a la carte basis at 50 per cent of its declared Non-CAS cable rates."

However, the tribunal also made it clear to Sun Direct that if ESPN, which has challenged TRAI's regulation over DTH pricing before it, gets the order in its favour, the DTH operator would have to pay tariffs in accordance with that final order.

Earlier, the South Indian DTH company owned by Maran family filed a petition to seek signals for its DTH services.

Appearing for Sun TV, Ramji Srinivasan submitted that it would provide wide coverage to ESPN channels by offering their channels to all customers.

"But beyond that we would not force any one to take ESPN's channel," added Srinivasan.

Meanwhile, ESPN counsel contended that Sun was asking channels at 50 per cent discount and they have already challenged the entire TRAI regulation directing broadcasters to give their channels to DTH operators at half the cable rates.

The case has now been listed for hearing on 10 February, 2009.