The Hindu : Front Page : Only Test highlights on Doordarshan

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Wednesday, Jan 11, 2006

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Only Test highlights on Doordarshan

Legal Correspondent

Supreme Court order to Ten Sports

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Ten Sports to make available to Doordarshan only 90-minute highlights of everyday's play in the India-Pakistan cricket Tests, after the Centre said it could not pay any amount to the channel for sharing the feed.

Earlier, solicitor-General G E Vahanvati told a Bench consisting of Justices Ashok Bhan and Tarun Chatterjee that Prasar Bharati would not be able to take the signals from Ten Sports along with advertisements by making a substantial payment. But the Government would not insist on Ten Sports complying with one of the guidelines, which made it mandatory for television channels to share the feed with Doordarshan, notwithstanding the contracts entered into.

At the suggestion of the court, senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for Ten Sports, and Mr. Vahanvati agreed to explore the possibility of working out a settlement to ensure that one-day internationals were telecast live on Doordarshan.

The Bench asked the Government and Prasar Bharati to file their replies to the petition filed by Ten Sports by January 20 and a rejoinder by January 27.

On Monday the court asked Mr. Vahanvati to inform it whether Doordarshan was willing to share with Ten Sports the feed of the series without any alteration including advertisements, after Mr. Salve insisted on compensation for the loss Ten Sports would suffer. He said Ten Sports was prepared to share the signals provided Doordarshan telecast the matches with advertisements

The Bench was hearing a special leave petition filed by Taj Television (India), owner of Ten Sports, against an order of the Bombay High Court, which admitted its petition challenging the revised guidelines on telecast of national events but refused to grant interim relief.

On Tuesday, Mr. Vahanvati said the offer made by Ten Sports for compensating the loss was not acceptable to Prasar Bharati. But the Government would not insist on Ten Sports complying with contentious guidelines. He also indicated that it would modify the guidelines. At the same time, he said the court should direct the channel to provide 90-minute highlights everyday. Mr. Salve agreed to this.

The court posted the case for further hearing on January 30.

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