Geo Super moves SHC to stop State TV-Indian TV’s proposed deal
KARACHI: Hearing a constitutional petition filed by Geo Super in the Sindh High Court (SHC) challenging the proposed joint venture of PTV with the ZTV-owned Ten Sports for acquisition of ICC Cricket Broadcasting Rights for 2012-2015 from ESPN, a divisional bench comprising Chief Justice Mushir Alam and Ali Ahmed Sheikh ordered issuance of notices to the Information Ministry, PTV, ZTV and Ten Sports.
After the publication of news in different newspapers that PTV is finalising a joint venture with the Zee TV network of India’s Ten Sports worth around Rs300 to 400 crore for acquisition of ICC Cricket Broadcasting Rights 2012-2015, several petitions have been filed in the Lahore High Court and SHC questioning the vires of such a deal with the Indian Zee TV Network.
Geo Super has contended in its petition that such negotiations with Ten Sports, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zee TV network of India, are being held without having any approvals from either the Board of Directors of PTV or Pemra or Information and Broadcasting Ministry or Interior Ministry and/or other security agencies of Pakistan.
It has been further contended in the petition that both ministries have not to date allowed broadcasting of any Indian owned channels in Pakistan. Geo Super has further contended that PTV is entering into a joint venture with Zee TV, but has ignored the offer of Geo Super on the same terms and conditions.
PTV has also turned down the suggestion of ESPN that PTV should form a joint venture with Geo Super to broadcast ICC cricket events on cable as well as terrestrial network.
Geo Super has sought the intervention of the court so that PTV could be refrained from entering into any joint venture or deal with Zee TV or any of Zee’s subsidiaries as it is not permitted by the laws of Pakistan.
Source: The News
Date:10/30/2011
” 
” 
” 
” 
