Modi Entertainment Network -- distributor of Ten Sports -- on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court's judgement directing the channel to share its exclusive telecast with Doordarshan after the latter deposits Rs 50 crore (Rs 500 million) in the court, saying the apex court has recognised that the national broadcaster had no commercial rights over the telecast.
"The court has recognised that DD has no rights for commercial interest and they have only public interest (for telecast of Indo-Pak cricket series)," MEN chief Lalit Modi told PTI immediately after the apex court's ruling.
Asked in what way today's ruling was different from the earlier proposal the channel had placed before the apex court, Modi said, "The court has ruled out compensation to Doordarshan."
The court had recognised "we have a claim on distribution revenue" for the telecast, he said.
The relief to DD was given by SC, but with a rider -- the national broadcaster cannot show any of its own advertisements during the match and 30 minutes before and after the match.
During the hearing, Ten Sport and MEN refused to have any settlement with DD, saying it would cost them a minimum loss of Rs 208 crore (Rs 2,080 million) in addition to future revenue loss.
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