SC restrains Prasar Bharati from interfering with Ten Sports right

New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed Prasar Bharati not to interfere with the exclusive rights of TEN Sports to telecast the tri-nation ODI in Sri Lanka and other tournaments like World Cup Hockey, Champion's Trophy Hockey and US Open Grand Slam tennis.

A Bech comprising Justice Ashok Bhan and Justice Markandey Katju rejected the contention of the Union Government that about 48 million people in the country cannot be deprived of their rights to watch and enjoy the sports events.

India, Sri Lanka and South Africa are the three teams participating in the cricket tournament to be played in Sri Lanka from August 14-29.

Earlier, senior counsel Harish Salve with P H Parekh, advocate appearing for Taj Television India Pvt Ltd, owners of Sharjah-based Ten Sports had pleaded that the petitioner had bought the exclusive rights to telecast live the tournament at a heavy price of over Rs 100 crore. The orders of the Government of India, directing that every private TV channel will have to compulsorily share its feed with the Doordarshan for any international sporting event of national importance with the Doordarshan, were arbitrary and illegal, they argued.

Additional Solicitor General Vikas Singh appearing for the state vehemently opposed the application of the petitioner seeking to restrain Prasar Bharati from downlinking the feed of the matches.

UNI AKS/SC MSJ DS1632