Comply with TRAI rules or face criminal proceedings, ESPN told

The Delhi HC today warned broadcaster ESPN that it would face criminal proceedings if it failed to comply with Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's directions on tariffs charged from DTH operators for its channels.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday warned broadcaster ESPN that it would face criminal proceedings if it failed to comply with Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) directions on tariffs charged from direct to home (DTH) operators for its channels.

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Justice S Muralidhar granted the sports broadcaster two days to file its amended reference interconnect offer (RIO) before regulator TRAI and posted the matter for further hearing on Friday.

The court took strong exception to ESPN's failure to comply with the assurance given to it by the company on November 25, 2008, that it would follow TRAI's directions.

The court had stayed criminal proceedings against ESPN India as well as its Managing Director RC Venkatiesh and five other company officials for not complying with TRAI directions on channel pricing for DTH sectors.

However, ESPN contended that it had complied with the order.

The court was not satisfied with ESPN's position and directed it to submit the RIO before TRAI by January 16.

The court passed the order on a petition filed by TRAI seeking to vacate the stay on criminal proceedings against the broadcaster saying that it failed to comply the order passed by the court.