SC restores Geo TV’s rights to broadcast world cup matches

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ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court on Monday restored the rights of Geo Super television for telecasting cricket World Cup matches on cable network across the country, earlier withdrawn by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).
“The PEMRA notification of January 10, 2011, is suspended for being without lawful authority and we direct the authority to implement its earlier notification in letter and spirit”, the court ruled in its brief order.
The Independent Media Group, a member company of Geo TV had challenged the PEMRA notification of January 10, 2011, that suspended the exclusive rights given by ESPN to air World Cup matches on cable network across Pakistan.
A three-member bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Muhammad Sair Ali and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday directed PEMRA to implement its earlier notification of December 2, 2010 approving the Geo TV’s exclusive rights in letter and spirit and adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period.