Star India will now have to remove sponsor logos, on-screen credits and embedded advertisements from their feeds before sharing it with Prasar Bharti. The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an appeal filed by the broadcaster against sharing clean feed.
Star India had approached the apex court against a 2013 Delhi High Court ruling which dismissed an ESPN Software Pvt. Ltd plea for a declaration that its responsibility was to share feed received from organizers, which would include advertisements, logos and other on-screen credits during the game.
As per the Sports Broadcast Signals Rules, 2007, private broadcasters have to share feed of sporting events of national importance with Prasar Bharati, without advertisements.
Star India contended before a bench comprising Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice P.C. Pant that this rule would impact not only cricket but other sporting events like tennis and hockey.
At present, Star India holds the rights to broadcast cricket events organized under the International Cricket Council in India.
The Court had made ICC also a party to the proceedings and considered its arguments before delivering its judgment.