ESPN-Star readies to take on Doordarshan

ESPN-Star (ESS) is preparing to take on Doordarshan - the rights-holder for the India-Pakistan series - over highlights. Officials at Doordarshan earlier turned down a request by ESS to broadcast a one-hour highlights package.

While the two broadcasters have an agreement to share television feed in case of either winning the rights for the four-year period, Doordarshan have refused ESS the feed due to a technicality; they have rights for only one series. KS Sarma, the CEO of the state-run broadcaster, said, "My agreement with ESS is applicable only in case of either of us bagging four-year telecast rights. Presently, this is a temporary arrangement under an interim order and we are not obliged to provide them one-hour telecast rights."

Sarma was curious about why ESS did not approach Doordarshan with a similar request last year when Doordarshan had the rights for the India's tour of Pakistan. However, the case was unique: Ten Sports had the rights for the series, but due to a battle with cable operators, they had to run their broadcasts on Doordarshan and share revenue with them.

RC Ventakateish, the managing director of ESS, said that he would use every option possible to obtain the highlights, including the legal one: "We would like to exhaust all options for amicable solutions before taking a legal recourse."