₹100-crore-plus Culver Max–Tata Play dispute adjourned to July 20 by TDSAT

In earlier interim relief, TDSAT had stayed the disconnection, directing Tata Play to deposit ₹40 crore, which ensured continued availability of Culver Max channels on the platform

by Imran Fazal
Published: Mar 30, 2026 12:08 PM | 2 min read

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) on Monday adjourned the ongoing broadcast carriage dispute between Culver Max Entertainment and Tata Play to July 20, citing lack of time due to hearings in other pending matters.

A bench comprising Chairperson Justice Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel and Member Dr Sanjeev Banzal took up the matter briefly before deferring it, as the tribunal’s schedule remained occupied with previously listed cases.

The dispute, one of the most closely watched in India’s broadcasting sector, dates back to May 2025 when Tata Play removed 25 channels of Culver Max from its DTH platform, triggering a legal and regulatory battle over carriage terms, subscription dues and bouquet structuring norms governed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Culver Max has maintained that Tata Play’s move violated the interconnection agreement as well as TRAI’s regulatory framework. The broadcaster had issued a disconnection notice on May 21, 2025, claiming unpaid dues exceeding ₹128 crore. Tata Play, however, has consistently disputed the claims, arguing that the amounts are under reconciliation and that disconnection would be contrary to regulatory provisions.

In earlier interim relief, TDSAT had stayed the disconnection, directing Tata Play to deposit ₹40 crore, which ensured continued availability of Culver Max channels on the platform. The tribunal also restrained the broadcaster from disrupting services while recording Tata Play’s stance that channels remained available on an a la carte basis despite bouquet-level changes.

Subsequently, Culver Max sought to vacate the interim relief, alleging misstatements by the DTH operator and pegging outstanding dues at over ₹124 crore. Tata Play countered that most invoices had been settled and any remaining differences were part of routine commercial reconciliation.

The tribunal had earlier dismissed Culver Max’s recall plea and also allowed the broadcaster to withdraw its audit petition after submission of the subscriber audit report.

With the matter now adjourned to July 20, the prolonged standoff continues to keep the industry on edge, given its implications for distribution agreements, pricing flexibility and regulatory enforcement in India’s television ecosystem.