SC allows DD to beam all India-centric World Cup matches

The Supreme Court Friday gave a go-ahead to public broadcaster Doordarshan to continue sharing live feed of World Cup cricket matches with private cable operators.

The Supreme Court Friday gave a go-ahead to public broadcaster Doordarshan to continue sharing live feed of World Cup cricket matches with private cable operators.

A bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi continued its stay on the Delhi high court verdict that had allowed the plea of Star India Ltd, which holds the exclusive telecast rights of the Cricket World Cup, restraining Prasar Bharati not to share the live feed of the matches with private cable operators.

SC said HC order shall remain in suspension until further orders. It posted Prasar Bharti’s appeal for a final hearing in July, much after the World Cup ends.

“We are of the view that the interim order passed earlier to the effect that the impugned order dated February 4, 2015 of the High Court shall remain suspended should continue until further orders. We order accordingly,” the bench said.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Centre and Prasar Bharati, had told the court that it was mandatory for a private channel under the Sports Act and the Cable TV Network Act to share the feeds of matches of “national importance” with Prasar Bharati for providing it on DD's free-to-air terrestrial channels.