The Supreme Court has refused to intervene in an ongoing Competition Commission of India (CCI) probe into Reliance-owned JioStar over alleged abuse of dominance and discriminatory pricing in Kerala’s television distribution market, dealing a setback to the media major.
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Sandeep Mehta on Tuesday dismissed JioStar’s plea seeking to halt the investigation, observing that the matter was still at a preliminary stage and that the regulator should be allowed to complete its inquiry.
“Let the regulator investigate. It is only at a preliminary stage. It is only an investigation,” the bench said while rejecting the plea.
JioStar had approached the apex court challenging a December 3, 2025 order of the Kerala High Court, which had declined to stay the CCI probe and directed the regulator to conclude its investigation within eight weeks.
The case originated from a complaint filed by Asianet Digital Network, a leading cable television distributor in Kerala. Asianet alleged that JioStar enjoys a dominant position in the state’s market due to its control over popular Malayalam entertainment channels and exclusive broadcast rights for major sporting events, including the Indian Premier League and international cricket.
According to the complaint, JioStar offered preferential discounts to rival Kerala Communicators Cable Ltd (KCCL), while denying similar terms to other distributors. Asianet claimed that although TRAI regulations permit discounts of up to 35 percent under a non-discriminatory regime, JioStar effectively extended discounts exceeding 50 percent to KCCL through separate marketing and promotional agreements.
Asianet argued that this allowed KCCL to offer cheaper channel packages, gain subscribers and expand market share, while other distributors were forced to operate at a disadvantage.
In February 2022, the CCI formed a prima facie view that the allegations warranted investigation and directed its director general to conduct a detailed probe, clarifying that the order did not amount to a finding of guilt.
JioStar has maintained that broadcasting pricing disputes fall under TRAI's jurisdiction, but both the Kerala High Court and now the Supreme Court have declined to interfere, clearing the way for the CCI to complete its investigation within the stipulated timeline.
JioStar was formed in November 2024 following the merger of Reliance’s media business with Disney’s India operations in an $8.5 billion deal.