Tata Play Drops Sony Channels Amid Pricing Dispute

By siliconindia | Wednesday, 21 May 2025, 10:49 Hrs

Tata Play has removed Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) channels from its packs over a pricing dispute.
SPNI is seeking a 10–15 percent subscription fee hike, which Tata Play is resisting due to stagnant ARPU and subscriber churn.
Affected customers are being offered lower-priced packs and à la carte options for Sony channels.

In a fresh standoff reminiscent of last year’s conflict, Direct-to-Home (DTH) service provider Tata Play has begun removing to Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) channels from its subscriber packs. The drive comes amid a disagreement about a proposed rise in subscription fees, signaling growing tensions between the distributor and the broadcaster.

As per industry sources, SPNI demands a 10–15 percent of increase in annual subscription fees for its channels. Therefore, Tata Play is pushing back against the hike, citing ongoing subscriber churn and stagnant average revenue per user (ARPU) as key concerns. The DTH operator marks that increasing costs at this time could further impact customer retention and operational margins.

As negotiations stall, Tata Play has moved to offer affected subscribers reduced pack prices and the option to subscribe to SPNI channels on an à la carte basis. In this context, viewers can still access Sony channels, but they must subscribe to them individually rather than as part of a larger package.

This latest update mirrors a similar dispute between the two companies in 2024, which was eventually resolved following regulatory interventions and consumer backlash. The current removal of SPNI channels includes popular offerings among others like Sony Entertainment Television, Sony SAB and Sony Sports Network..

Tata Play and SPNI have yet to release official statements, but the developments are being closely watched by industry analysts. Who notes that such conflicts are becoming more common as content costs rise and DTH operators struggle to maintain profitability in a shifting media landscape increasingly dominated by OTT platforms. Consumers impacted by the change are being notified through SMS and in-app alerts and with Tata Play encouraging them to use self-care options to customize their channel preferences.