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The Kerala High Court was today scheduled to hear a public interest
litigation, filed by two "cricket enthusiasts", seeking
judicial direction to Ten Sports to share its cricket feed with
DD as the satellite sports channel was not widely available on cable
networks in the state of Kerala.
The apex court, while refusing to pass any directive in a matter
involving Ten Sports and DD, also said that no other court could
take up any cricket related case involving the two parties as a
similar case was already pending a final order from the Supreme
Court.
The next date of hearing in the SC, which was moved by the Dubai-based
broadcaster yesterday, is 8 August, by when most of the matches in
Sri Lanka would in any case be over and done with.
India, Sri Lanka and West Indies are participating in The Indian
Oil Cup series from 30 July - 9 August.
However, in a gesture which upholds understanding of the nuances
of the game in a cricket crazy country like India, the Supreme Court
observed that Ten and DD, if they so wish, could thrash out their
present differences amicably without any fear of judicial interference.
Officials of Prasar Bharati, which control DD and All India Radio,
maintained a studied silence today after the court directive, saying,
“We are studying other options.”
Ten Sports expressed happiness at the turn of events, maintaining
that it has full faith in the judicial system of the country.
Earlier, Ten Sports (rights holder of Lankan cricket) and DD have
been involved in a slanging match over sharing of terrestrial feed
with both the parties rejecting offers made by the other.
In a written reply to a Ten Sports communiqué to Prasar
Bharati on commercial interests of the private broadcaster being
hit if the live feed from Sri Lanka were shared with the pubcaster,
DD had obliquely threatened that “hoarding” of terrestrial rights
by Ten when it doesn’t have a terrestrial network was tantamount
to working against the interests of Indian public.
Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court today adjourned a writ petition
seeking telecast of the cricket tri-series, beginning in Sri Lanka
on Saturday, by Doordarshan following the stay order of the Supreme
Court, United News of India reported from Kochi.
When the matter came up before the division bench, comprising Chief
Justice Rajiv Gupta and Justice KS Radhakrishnan, senior counsel
TP Kelu Nambiar, appearing on behalf of Ten Sports, informed the
court that the apex court had stayed the proceedings in the petition
filed by Ten Sports to transfer the PIL from the high court to the
Supreme Court.
Also Read:
DD
rejects Ten Sports' transmission offer
DD
yet to revert on Ten Sports' offer for India-Lanka series
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