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The court case, meanwhile, pertains to a plea filed by Zee Telefilms
contending that cancellation of the bidding process by the BCCI
amounted to breach of its fundamental rights under Article 226 of
the Indian Constitution. The board, in a counter affidavit filed
yesterday, had told the court that since it owned the telecast rights,
it was entitled to have dealings with anyone it chose to and had
sought dismissal of Zee's petition. The court had earlier passed
an injunction restraining the board from awarding television telecast
rights to any broadcaster or party while the case was being heard.
Mahendra's declaration that the Pakistan tour would be delayed has
like as not a lot to do with the fact that till the court delivers
a ruling, the BCCI cannot negotiate with any broadcaster, including
Indian pubcaster Doordarshan, on the rights for the upcoming series
that is scheduled to begin early March.
Along with the Zee petition, there is also a plea filed earlier
by ESPN Star Sports in the Supreme Court seeking legal protection
against BCCI awarding cricket rights to anybody else without considering
ESS' bid too.
That the board is in a bind of its own making is clear from the
comments Mahendra made on the rights' issue. He said the matter
would not be taken up until the board received a directive from
the court.
And judging from the inconclusiveness of today's day-long hearing,
there is no surety that the court will deliver a verdict tomorrow
either.
In the event the case drags, one option the board has is to revisit
an earlier proposal it had been considering that envisaged producing
the cricket matches itself, buying time on a channel for telecast
like producers of sponsored serials on Doordarshan do and then marketing
commercial time. Or else the tried and tested patchwork solution
used on earlier occasions could be brought to bear on the proceedings:
Seek the Supreme Court's intervention "in light of the urgency
of the matter". If the second (more likely) option is taken,
then the apex court would in all probability clear the decks for
DD to telecast pending a final verdict.
The series against Australia and South Africa earlier in the season
were also telecast by DD.
But if, as it looks more and more likely now, DD does get the telecast
by default, one thing that the board can kiss goodbye to is a whole
load of money. Going by the board's own admission, not awarding
the rights to a private broadcaster during the South Africa and
Australia series cost it a cool Rs 1.5 billion. And that too after
subtracting the Rs 1 billion the board received from Prasar Bharati
for the two series.
The upcoming series is worth much, much more!
Also Read:
Madras
HC restrains BCCI from awarding telecast rights till 17 February
Cricket:
Zee moves Madras High Court
BCCI
not a 'State': Supreme Court
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