Just before one of the biggest sporting events of our country, Indian Premier League (IPL), Season 11, is about to start, both Star and Airtel Digital TV have been engaged in a fierce battle over pricing issue on the DTH platform. Star Network is running a campaign, using clips of various films and cricket matches, where they are directly asking Airtel Digital TV subscribers to switch to other DTH (Direct to home) providers. According to them, Airtel is charging as much as Rs 1,000 for Star channels, which viewers can watch at Rs 200, if they switch to other providers such as Tata Sky, Sun Direct, Hathway, Den, GTPL and Fastway.

The broadcaster has also notified that Star has not increased channel tariffs and Airtel Digital TV is misleading the customers and unilaterally increasing the prices of Star channels. Therefore, in order to continue watching high-quality Star entertainment, it is time to switch to other operators.

Watch Star TV’s campaign #MakeTheSwitch, Urging Airtel DTH users to switch to other operators:

This year, Star India has bagged the global media rights for Vivo IPL for an estimated Rs 16,348 crore bid for five seasons (2018-22). By acquiring the broadcast rights, Star Plus has unseated their arch rival Sony Pictures Network, which held on to the rights since the last 10 years. Reportedly, it is one of the most expensive deals in cricket broadcasting history.

In response to Star’s allegation, Airtel Digital TV has put the blame on Star TV for demanding “an unreasonable hike in rates from Airtel Digital TV”. They have issued a notice on social media, citing that there is no truth in Star TV’s assertion that Airtel Digital TV is increasing the prices and urged the customers to not fall for the lies. The DTH operator also mentioned, “It is public knowledge that Star TV recently made a bid to acquire exclusive rights to a popular sporting event and is now left with no other option but to arm-twist and extract the sunken cost from DTH/ Cable operators and advertisers.”

Read the full statement from Airtel DTH here:

Do Airtel DTH Subscribers get to watch IPL?

Yes,  Airtel Digital TV  subscribers will get to watch IPL because all Standard Definition Channels from Star Network will be available to the customers as part of their existing pack, no price increase. Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 Hindi will be available foreveryone to have live access to IPL. Airtel in this case, will bear the higher cost of the channels. As of Q3FY18, Airtel Digital TV had a customer base of 13.9 million users.

Reportedly, Star India has also issued disconnection notices to Dish TV and Videocon d2h. This was due to the rate revision of channels ahead of IPL.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 27, 2018 10:39 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).