Overview
- The bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Sandeep Mehta dismissed JioStar’s plea, noting the case is at a preliminary stage.
- Asianet Digital Network alleges JioStar gave Kerala Communicators Cable Ltd effective discounts exceeding 50% via promotional payments and test channels, leading to a steep subscriber shift.
- JioStar argued that pricing and discounts fall exclusively under TRAI’s remit, but the Court declined to halt the competition probe.
- The CCI’s Director General is proceeding with an investigation into alleged abuse of dominance, consistent with Kerala High Court rulings that allow CCI scrutiny in regulated sectors.
- If violations are established, JioStar, a Reliance Industries-owned broadcaster, could face penalties or remedial measures under the Competition Act.