ESPN sues cable operators - FIFA Issue

Police Complaints Filed Against Operators For Piracy of Soccer Broadcast
Ahmedabad: Leading sports broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports on Tuesday filed police complaints against cable operators in Ahmedabad, Surat and Jamnagar for alleged piracy of signals of FIFA World Cup broadcast.


The broadcaster is engaged in a dispute with MSO Gujarat Telelinks Pvt Ltd (GTPL) over dues. ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd has switched off the signals of their channels due to alleged nonpayment of dues. Sports fanatics in the state subscribing to the service of GTPL are thereby missing the live telecast of FIFA World Cup 2010.
“The local operators have not been able to face the consumer ire and have resorted to piracy. Taking cognisance of the same, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd filed FIRs,” says a release issued by ESPN.
T S Panesar, associate vicepresident (Affiliate Sales), ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd, said, “The FIR is a first step and we will leave no-stone unturned to ensure that the culprits are booked under the law of the land. We are evaluating all possible legal options to ensure that the culprits are arrested at the earliest. We have also set up a local team to detect piracy and act at the earliest. The cable operator in question has been charging subscription fee from the consumers and not passing the due to the broadcaster. This is unacceptable and I hope the FIR’s will send the right signal.”
Police complaints have been filed against Patel Cable Network in Ahmedabad, Anjali VideoHut in Surat and Gold ChannelCable Network in Jamnagar.