BANGALORE: It was a disappointing Sunday for those who wanted to catch up on some sporting action on TV.

The ongoing tiff involving ESPN-Star over the increase in fee for three channels resulted in cable operators switching off the channels. While the discontentment is brewing among cable and DTH operators over the frequent increases in fee by ESPN, the issue reached a dead-end this weekend.

The operators, who are not willing to abide by the 70% hike, have blacked out three channels owned by ESPN. “They have been resorting to fee increase regularly and it is becoming unaffordable for operators as we have to resort to hiking the charge collected from customers. The company is violating a TRAI order,” said Karnataka State Cable Operators Association president V S Patrick Raju.

Cable operators will have another round of talks with the company on Monday morning to come to a consensus.