The row began after Space Communication Pvt Ltd (SCPL), the local franchisee of Siti Cable Network Ltd (SCNL), received a letter from News Television India Ltd (Star TV) on September 7 asking the SCPL to pay to the former the subscription charges for September. When the contents of the letter were communicated to the Delhi office of the SCNL, the latter expressed shock at the developments.

"Contrary to what is being communicated to your company by M/S News Television India Ltd, we neither have any information nor is there any agreement to terminate the ongoing understanding between Siti Cable Network Ltd and the News Television India Ltd for transmitting the pay channels of Star from the network managed by you," the Delhi office of the SCNL said in its letter to the SCPL. The letter also says: "...In view of the above unless we inform you otherwise our agreement with News Television India Ltd remains valid."

Subsequently, in its September 15 communication to the local office of SCNL, the Star TV warned the latter that "if outstanding payments for August '99 and September '99 of Space Communication, Maninagar cable N/W, Sabarmati Cable N/W and Ahmedabad Communication are not cleared on or before September 28 '99, then it would result in termination of all Star Digital Services on September 28, '99.". Soon after that the local pay channels moved the city civil court where the hearing was fixed for October 5.

In the meanwhile, the pay channels also moved Gujarat High Court, which in its interim order delivered on September 28, asked the News Television India Ltd "to switch off and/or continue the signals of Star pay channels till disposal of this appeal and civil application." The High Court also ordered the pay channels to deposit the amount (Star TV had asked from the pay channels) at the trial court. As per the High Court order, the pay channels on September 30 deposited a cheque of Rs 4,39,466 with the Registrar of the City Civil Court.

When contacted, Space Communication managing director Ashwin Punjabi alleged that "Star TV, in violation of the court order, continues to block the transmission of its channels. "Regional Manager of News Television India Ltd N K Rouse could not be contacted.