Ten Sports to share signals of India-Lanka matches with DD, AIR

New Delhi, Aug 26 (UNI) Ten Sports TV channel would now share its live signals of the India-Sri lanka one-day International matches with public broadcaster Prasar Bharati.

The channel gave a commitment to the Delhi High Court today in this connection.

Ten Sports, earlier did not share the live signals of first three one-day International matches played between India and Sri Lanka on August 18, 20, and 24, which they were mandated to do under the provisions of Section 3 (1) of the Sports Broadcasting Signals (mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007.

Prasar Bharati informed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of this and accordingly two show cause notices, dated Aug 20 and 21, were issued to M/s Taj Television India Private Limited, Mumbai (the downlinking agent of Ten Sports channel in India) and M/s Taj Television Limited, Dubai, the content rights owner or holder and the owner of Ten Sports channel, for violation of the rules.

Meanwhile, a Civil Miscellaneous Application was filed before the Delhi High Court by a consumer organisation urging the Court to intervene as Ten Sports not sharing the live signals with Prasar Bharati was in violation of the Rules.

The matter was heard today and the counsels appearing for Ten Sports channel made a statement before the court that they are ready to share live broadcast signals with Prasar Bharati. The Court also directed Prasar Bharati (Doordarshan) to re-schedule its other programmes on the days of the matches and show the live matches in larger public interest, the Ministry said here today.

The order was passed by the court without prejudice to the rights and contentions of any of the parties in respect to the show cause notices already issued to M/s Ten Sports Channel.

The above Act was brought into force to ensure access of the largest number of listeners and viewers on a free-to-air basis to sporting events of national importance through mandatory sharing of Sports Broadcasting Signals with Prasar Bharati by any content rights owner or holder and a television or radio broadcasting service provider.

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