HC notice to Prasar Bharati on cricket telecast

By Our Correspondent

BANGALORE, MAY 24. The Karnataka High Court today passed an interim order directing the Prasar Bharati not to permit any person to exploit internet rights for cricket matches played in India, and hosted by the BCCI, without inviting tenders or auctioning the rights.

The order was passed by a Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice, Mr. Y. Bhaskar Rao, and Mr. Justice V. Gopala Gowda. The Bench ordered issue of notice to the Prasar Bharati and other respondents on a public interest writ petition filed by Mr. Narendranath Swami of Bangalore.

The petitioner submitted that the petition had been filed to prevent leakage of revenue of about Rs. 650 crores. He said the BCCI entered into an agreement on September 25, 1999 with the Prasar Bharati giving full rights to Doordarshan to telecast cricket matches played in India for a period of five years beginning October 1, 1999. The Prasar Bharati agreed to pay a sum of Rs. 46 crores per annum for five years.

According to the petitioner, the Prasar Bharati, in turn, invited bids for marketing the airtime for matches played in India and M/s. Budha Film offered Rs. 400 crores for the rights. The Prasar Bharati also got the Internet rights for the matches and it offered the rights free of cost to TWI/ Stern India Co. The petitioner contended that the Prasar Bharati bartered the right to TWI without inviting bids or tenders and this would result in leakage of revenue.

The judges, after passing the interim order, adjourned further hearing of the petition.

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