The Hindu Business Line : Ten, DD may go for out-of-court settlement

A DAY before the Supreme Court gives its verdict, the Dubai-based Ten Sports Chief, Mr Abdul Rehman Bukhatir, said that the channel will share the rights with the national broadcaster for the second match being played at Rawalpindi safeguarding the its future business interests.

This decision was taken after the Law Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley, intervened and asked the broadcaster to uphold the law of the land. Yesterday, the channel's counsel had said that there could be a blackout if the Dubai-based company Taj TV Private Ltd, Dubai decided not to part with the signals. Amidst all this, the possibility of an out-of-court settlement is also not being ruled out. The Government is also planning to suggest compensating Ten Sports by paying a fixed fee. "Any such decision will be based on the Supreme Court verdict," said Government sources. The Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad, today met Mr Jaitley to discuss the issue. Mr Jaitley while confirming that he had talked to Mr Bukhatir refused to divulge details. The Government today reiterated that the series has been possible as part of the peace process between India and Pakistan. Earlier in the day, Mr Bukhatir told newspersons before the commencement of the day's play, that the channel would share its signals with the national broadcaster as per the Supreme Court Order. "Our efforts will be to show all the matches to Indian public, but we, have our commercial interests, there are other investors. To acquire the above exclusive cricket for live broadcasting, as well as other driver content we have on the channel, it costs huge sums of money... we have invested non-stop in Ten Sports for the last two years and now the product is truly head and shoulders above all other sports channels,'' he said.

He expressed concern that the organisations' rights investment had been damaged over the recent past and it has been ``unilaterally compelled'' to share its exclusive rights with third parties without any pre-determined agreements or adequate compensation.

Ten will bid for BCCI rights

The recent row between Ten Sports and Prasar Bharati will not prevent the former from bidding for the BCCI cricket rights.

Mr Chris McDonald, CEO, Taj TV said, "Certainly we are interested. We would like to get the best cricket events for our viewers. But the BCCI was yet to come out with the tender documents,'' he said adding that his organisation would like to see the terms of the tender first.

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