Broadcaster ESPN-Star Sports has approached the Delhi High Court seeking a direction to TV news channels not to show footages of cricket matches, for which it has exclusive broadcasting rights, for more than two minutes in their bulletins in a single day. The appeal was filed by the sports broadcaster challenging the single bench decision not to pass restraint order against news broadcasters on February 18.
ESPN Star Sports had also sought a restrain on using footages from matches played, including the Tests, T-20 and One-Day matches, in programmes other than scheduled news bulletins.
It contended before a bench headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal that the usage of the footage was in violation of ESPN-Star Sport's terms and conditions, which say that the footages could only be utilised in scheduled news bulletins for 30 seconds and a total of two minutes per day and that too with the permission of the plaintiff (ESPN-Star).
The sports broadcaster had said that footages were being utilised for programmes of commercial purpose by carrying advertisements.
It has sought restrain order against five news channels -- CNN-IBN and its sister concern IBN7, Aaj Tak, Star News, Zee News and NDTV 24X7.
The sports broadcaster had approached the single bench after it found that many news channels were airing programmes related to allegations of racism against Indian cricket player Harbhajan Singh by Australian players.
The channel had contended that it had exclusive telecast rights for India's cricket tour to Australia and the utilisation of the footage of the said series was unauthorised and was not fair.