| MUMBAI:
The verdict on whether Sony is on or off as the broadcast partner for the IPL
is not out yet. The Bombay High Court today reserved its order on a petition filed
by Sony, challenging BCCI's move to terminate the contract for the Twenty20 broadcast. Justice
S J Kathawala directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not to
enter into any fresh deal on IPL telecast rights till the order is pronounced. BCCI
had ended Sony's contract on the morning of 15 March and given it to World Sports
Group (Mauritius). Sony obtained injunction from the court the same afternoon,
restraining the cricket board from entering into new contracts. Sony's
lawyer Iqbal Chhagla argued that as the termination notice was given on Saturday,
a non-working day, it would have come into effect only on 16 March (Monday). Stating
that the BCCI was earning much more out of the new agreement with WSG, BCCI lawyer
V Tulzapurkar also pointed out that the contract was terminated because Sony's
"quality of broadcasting" was "bad". The
cricket board alleged that insertion of graphics and advertisements by Sony led
to blocking of view of play during telecast. | 
