On January 27, JioStar’s request to prevent the Competition Commission of India (CCI) from looking into claims of monopolistic practices in the television distribution industry in Kerala was denied by the Supreme Court. The court decided that the issue merits further inquiry and permitted CCI to carry out its investigation. The Kerala High Court’s decision on December 3, 2025, which also denied JioStar’s appeal, was challenged in court by the entertainment unit company controlled by Reliance Industries.What Triggered JioStar Controversy?Asianet Digital Network Ltd. filed a complaint accusing JioStar of unfair and preferential pricing practices, which sparked the dispute. JioStar is specifically supporting Kerala Communicators Cable Ltd. through marketing and promotional incentives, according to Asianet Digital Network Ltd. The complaint claimed that these actions disadvantaged other distributors and went against the rules of fair competition in the industry.However, JioStar argued that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which controls licensing and pricing, is the only body that can regulate broadcasters’ operations. The corporation requested judicial intervention to stop the investigation, claiming that CCI lacked the authority to look into its business activities. Asianet referred to the separate marketing or promotional agreements that JioStar used to effectively give KCCL discounts of… Read MoreStartupTalky- Business News, Insights and Stories
