According to Prasar Bharati, the private channels were using much more than the permitted level of Commonwealth footage.
Prasar Bharati, the official broadcaster of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in the country, had moved the Delhi high court to prevent 24 private channels from using unauthorised footage of the event, but has failed to get relief against the channels.
Hearing an injunction suit filed by the state-owned broadcaster against 24 broadcasters and the CWG organising committee, justice VK Shali refused to pass any restraint order against the private channels and directed them to file their responses by November 24.
Doordarshan (DD) or (Prasar Bharti) had sent notices to the TV channels stating it held exclusive rights to cover the mega event and any illegal telecast of its footage would be a violation of copyright law.
“This is a preventive measure to disallow any of the private news channels to take CWG footage indiscriminately,” the petition read.
The petition recalled how private news channels used footage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games despite DD bagging the exclusive rights to air it in India. “We had purchased telecast rights for the Beijing Olympics for Rs13 crore. The exclusivity of the property was lost and we cannot afford the same mistake with the Commonwealth Games. It’s like a blockbuster film for us.”
According to Prasar Bharati, the private channels were using much more than the permitted level of Commonwealth footage.
The state broadcaster, citing public interest, had won a legal battle a few years ago that allowed it to telecast cricket matches in which India is involved, no matter who owns the right to telecast the event.
In the past, some broadcasters were also engaged in a spat over airing footage of the Indian Premier League matches.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}