 Colombo: A dispute over broadcast rights of London Olympics has flared up here with state television and a private tv/radio channel embroiled in it.
The commercial high court today issued a restraining order on the private station precluding them from carrying pre publicity of broadcast until June 6.
State television, Rupavahini moved the action in court.
A separate order valid until May 31 was obtained last week against the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) to restrict them from negotiating with another local broadcaster.
Rupavahini Corporation claimed they had secured exclusive rights for free terrestrial, satellite, cable and radio transmission of the London Olympic Games 2012, within Sri Lanka.
Rupavahini officials said the ABU based in Kuala Lumpur obtained the broadcasting rights for the London Olympic games 2012 for the Asian Pacific region from the International Olympic Committee.
Rupavahini officially applied for broadcasting rights to the London Games in 2008 soon after the conclusion of the Beijing Olympics.
Accepting this application, the ABU awarded exclusive broadcasting rights of this event to the SLRC on December 6, 2011.
However, the privately owned MTV/MBC Media network also claimed last week that they had obtained ABU consent to share broadcasting rights.
MTV claimed under the rules of regional rights holders, ABU in the event of having more than a single taker, members should share the broadcasting rights.
Rupavahini said it was not willing to share rights but would form a pool of broadcasters who could use their feed of the coverage.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, May 23, 2012, 20:49
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