New Delhi The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea from direct-to-home operator Tata Sky, seeking that sports broadcaster ESPN be directed to provide High Definition Feed (HDF) signals to its platform for upcoming global sports events Fifa World Cup and Wimbledon.
Rejecting TataSky’s plea, Justice Manmohan Singh said that the global sports broadcaster was still in the process of obtaining permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to uplink HDF from the countries hosting the games.
The court further observed that TataSky, a 70:30 joint venture between the Tata Group and broadcast giant Star, does not even have the infrastructure to receive the HDF.
“Another fact is that, at present, the petitioner (TataSky) has no infrastructure for the same (HDF) as admitted by it in its answer... that it will launch it before the Commonwealth Games,” the court further said.
Justice Singh maintained that there was no urgency in the matter as it was already listed before broadcast tribunal TDSAT for scheduled hearing on June 28.
TataSky had approached the court after the Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal, on June 3, directed ESPN to provide HDF signals. The tribunal also directed the DTH operator and the sports broadcaster to negotiate its terms and conditions.
But TataSky later asked ESPN to provide HDF decoders and other instruments to decode and beam the signals on its platform, a request that the broadcaster did not comply with.
Following this, the DTH operator approached the High Court.
TataSky has submitted before the court that as the two global sporting events - Fifa World Cup and Wimbledon - would be commencing from June 11 and June 21 respectively, the court should decide on the issue urgently.
HC rejects TataSky plea for World Cup HD feed from ESPN - Express India
Rejecting TataSky’s plea, Justice Manmohan Singh said that the global sports broadcaster was still in the process of obtaining permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to uplink HDF from the countries hosting the games.
The court further observed that TataSky, a 70:30 joint venture between the Tata Group and broadcast giant Star, does not even have the infrastructure to receive the HDF.
“Another fact is that, at present, the petitioner (TataSky) has no infrastructure for the same (HDF) as admitted by it in its answer... that it will launch it before the Commonwealth Games,” the court further said.
Justice Singh maintained that there was no urgency in the matter as it was already listed before broadcast tribunal TDSAT for scheduled hearing on June 28.
TataSky had approached the court after the Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal, on June 3, directed ESPN to provide HDF signals. The tribunal also directed the DTH operator and the sports broadcaster to negotiate its terms and conditions.
But TataSky later asked ESPN to provide HDF decoders and other instruments to decode and beam the signals on its platform, a request that the broadcaster did not comply with.
Following this, the DTH operator approached the High Court.
TataSky has submitted before the court that as the two global sporting events - Fifa World Cup and Wimbledon - would be commencing from June 11 and June 21 respectively, the court should decide on the issue urgently.
HC rejects TataSky plea for World Cup HD feed from ESPN - Express India
