AsiaSat gears up for India fight

Hong Kong-based satellite operator AsiaSat is preparing for a legal and regulatory battle in India after recent policy changes disrupted its long-running role in the country’s broadcast distribution.

India’s updated satellite norms have led to questions over AsiaSat’s right to operate in the market beyond March 31, pushing broadcasters to line up alternative satellite capacity. Industry players say arbitration notices from AsiaSat to Indian broadcasters may not hold if the company no longer has permission to serve the market, forcing channels to migrate to other providers while the dispute plays out in arbitration rather than in regular courts.