Cable operators restrained from illegal telecast of India-Australia series

ESPN Software India had filed a suit against 63 cable operators taking feed illegally and showing the matches

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | January 6, 2012

The vacation bench of the Delhi High Court has ordered in favour of ESPN Software India (ESIPL), in its suit for permanent injunction filed against cable operators across the country against unauthorised broadcast of the ongoing Indian cricket team's tour to Australia, restraining all cable operators, hotels and Internet websites from unauthorisedly showing the series in any manner.

The four-Test series is being shown on Star Cricket and Star Cricket HD. The Test series will be followed by two T20 matches between India and Australia and a triangular ODI series comprising 15 matches involving India, Australia and Sri Lanka. The ODI series will be telecast on Star Cricket, Star Cricket HD and ESPN.

ESIPL, in its suit, claimed that it has just cause for apprehension that the defendants, approximately 63 named cable operators, hotels and Internet websites, may take unauthorised connections and may unauthorisedly access signals of ESIPL without taking license from the company.

After this order anyone showing the broadcast of India's tour to Australia through any unauthorised means is liable to be held in contempt of court and can be prosecuted. The High Court has also permitted ESIPL to take action against “unnamed” entities not party to the suit but are found to be unauthorisedly utilising the feed of ESPN and Star Cricket without licence.

Said TS Panesar, VP - Affiliate Sales, ESPN Software India, “This order will go a long way in ensuring that unauthorised telecast is curbed. We have a team of observers across the country to ensure that piracy does not happen and in case we spot any, we will align with the police to bring the guilty to book.”

The High Court has also restrained unnamed entities who may be found to be indulging in cable piracy.  The police authorities concerned have been directed to render all assistance to ESIPL to enforce the order of injunction.

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

Info@BestMediaInfo.com