Nine pulls plug in India as DD stays firm on contract

NEW DELHI: Kerry Packer's Nine Broadcasting India is pulling the

plug in India after government broadcaster Doordarshan (DD) refused to

negotiate a long-term contract.

In its negotiations, Nine offered to pay US$26 million for the

7pm-10pm slot on DD's Metro channel, brand the prime time slotwith

quality programming and upgrade DD's equipment.

Nine had expected the terms would allow the company to reap the benefits

of state patronage, ensuring that the channel would be carried

terrestrially as well as free-to-air on satellite to reach more than 33

million homes across the nation.

Questions are now being asked about the future of Nine chief executive

officer, Ravina Kohli, who left Sony Entertainment TV to join Packer's

company.