ESS secures injunction from HC against illegal telecast of T20 WC

A plea was filed against cable operators, hotels and websites

ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) has managed to secure a permanent injunction from the Delhi High Court, filed against cable operators, hotels and websites against unauthorised broadcast of the ongoing ICC Twenty20 World Cup.

Favouring the broadcaster, the Court has restrained all cable operators, hotels and Internet websites from showing the tournament in any manner without taking permission of the exclusive rights holder. All the 27 matches of the championship are being shown live by ESS on its channels STAR Cricket and STAR Cricket HD with English commentary. The broadcaster is also doing a simulcast of all India matches, semi-finals and the final of the championship with Hindi commentary on ESPN channel.

In its suit, ESS had pleaded that the defendants, approximately 34 named cable operators, hotels and Internet websites, may take unauthorised connections and may access signals of ESS without taking license from the company.

T S Panesar, Vice President, Affiliate Sales, ESPN Software India said, “We welcome the order. This order will help us in curbing any unauthorised telecast of our channels. We already have a team across the country who is trying to ensure that piracy does not happen and in case we spot any, we will bring the guilty to the book.”

After this order, anyone showing the broadcast of the matches through any unauthorised means or any other channel is liable to be held in contempt of court and can be prosecuted. The police authorities concerned have been directed to render all assistance to ESS to enforce the order of injunction. The Court has also permitted ESS to take action against “unnamed” entities not party to the suit but are found to be utilising the feed of ESPN, STAR Cricket HD and STAR Cricket without license.