SLRC To Take Legal Action Against MTV

By Indika Sri Aravinda

Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) is to take MTV to Court over the broadcasting rights of the London Olympic Games.
This is after MTV publicly announced last week that the private channel will be telecasting the 2012 Games which begins in July. SLRC Chairman Mohan Samaranayake insisted that only the state television network has the rights to broadcast the games live on television.
He said that the deal was reached with the Asian Broadcasting Union (ABU) and the SLRC has the documents to prove it.

Samaranayake told The Sunday Leader that the SLRC was now gathering details on the MTV claim that it had obtained rights to broadcast the games. He also said that the SLRC had initiated discussions with the ABU on the issue and sought clarification.
The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation has paid for the exclusive broadcasting rights of the 2012 London Olympics, Samaranayake added.
When The Sunday Leader contacted MTV Channel head Chevaan Daniel he confirmed that MTV will be broadcasting the event and details regarding this will be revealed at a press briefing this week.
Earlier the Carlton Sports Network (CSN) had also attempted to obtain exclusive broadcasting rights of the Olympics.
CSN had sought to obtain the rights from SLRC but the state broadcaster said it had decided not to transfer the telecast rights.
Samaranayake had earlier said that the ABU had informed SLRC that the exclusive telecast rights for the upcoming Olympic Games in London cannot be transferred.