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ESPN to court: Can’t share cricket revenue with DD
MUMBAI: Sports channel ESPN today said it holds the exclusive right to telecast the India-Bangladesh cricket series and was not willing to share its revenue with Doordarshan for telecasting the three one-dayers, first of which is starting at Chittagong on 23 December.
“We are not agreeable to revenue sharing”. ESPN would suffer a “huge financial loss” if asked to share its revenue with Doordarshan in the ratio of 80:20, senior advocate, Rakesh Munchal, representing ESPN, submitted before the Kerala High CourT, report Press Trust of India from Kochi.
The submission was made on a petition filed by S Ramesh, Kerala’s former Ranji captain and another petitioner from Idukki district seeking a direction to Indian pub-caster Doordarshan to telecast the India-Bangladesh series.
Munchal pointed out that the relief sought by the petitioners, if granted, would violate ESPN’s copyrights.
Only on 16 December, Doordarshan had informed the court that due to “paucity of time,” it was not possible to make arrangements to telecast the second Test match between India and Bangladesh.
However, it was willing to enter into an arrangement with ESPN for telecasting the three one-day matches starting from 23 December, provided ESPN agrees to share the revenue in the ratio of 80:20, Deputy Director General (Sports), Doordarshan, New Delhi, Madlini, had informed the court.
Arguments in the case, which is being heard by a division bench, comprising Chief Justice B Subashan Reddy and Justice Kurian Joseph, will continue tomorrow, reports PTI.
When contacted by Indiantelevision.com in Delhi CEO Prasar Bharati KS Sarma, which Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) air, however refrained to comment on the matter saying it was sub judice.
