26 August :“Ten Sports” TV channel did not share the live signals of first three one day international matches played between India and Sri Lanka on 18th, 20th and 24th August, 2008 which they were mandated to do under the provisions of Section 3 (1) of the Sports Broadcasting Signals (mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007.
Prasar Bharati informed the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting of this and accordingly two show cause notices each dated 20th and 21st August, 2008 were issued to M/s Taj Television India Private Limited, Mumbai (the downlinking agent of Ten Sports channel in India) and M/s Taj Television Limited, Dubai, the content rights owner or holder and the owner of Ten Sports channel for violation of the rules.
Meanwhile, a Civil Miscellaneous Application was filed before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court by a consumer organization urging the Hon’ble Court to intervene as Ten Sports not sharing the live signals with Prasar Bharati was in violation of the Rules. The matter was heard today and the Counsels appearing for Ten Sports channel made a statement before the Hon’ble Court that they are ready to share live broadcast signals with Prasar Bharati. The Hon’ble Court also directed Prasar Bharati (Doordarshan) to re-schedule its other programmes on the days of the matches and show the live matches in larger public interest. The order was passed by the Hon’ble Court without prejudice to the rights and contentions of any of the parties in respect of the show cause notices already issued to M/s Ten Sports Channel.
The above Act was brought into force to provide access to the largest number of listeners and viewers on a free-to-air basis, of sporting events of national importance through mandatory sharing of Sports Broadcasting Signals with Prasar Bharati by any content rights owner or holder and a television or radio broadcasting service provider.