Court issues interim injunction over Olympics telecast rights

The Commercial High Court today issued an interim injunction preventing MTV/MBC network from telecasting the 2012 London Olympics.

The Court on May 17 had issued an enjoining order, after taking up a petition filed by Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), preventing the issuing of London Olympic TV rights to any Television station in Sri Lanka except Rupavahini.

However, when the case was taken up against today Colombo Commercial High Court Judge Gamini Amarasekara issued the interim injunction, effective till August 27.

Television coverage of the 2012 Olympics sparked controversy recently in Sri Lanka with two broadcasters – the private Maharaja Television Network (MTV) and state-owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) – both laying claim to the domestic TV rights.

MTV, along with the radio rights winner Maharaja Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), reportedly outbid the state owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and Carlton Sports Network (CSN), according to media reports last week.

However, SLRC chairman Mohan Samaranayake insists that only the state television network has the rights to broadcast the Olympic Games live on television.

Traditionally the SLRC has broadcast the Games, which are held every four years.

 

Courtesy: Ada Derana