Supreme Court Issues Notice On Prasar Bharati's Plea In Cricket Broadcast Rights Dispute With Stracon India

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice on a Special Leave Petition filed by Prasar Bharati challenging a Delhi High Court judgment holding that it was contractually obliged to provide 135 days of international cricket under the Global Rights Agreement.

The High Court had partly upheld an arbitral award in favour of Stracon India Ltd. while reducing the compensable shortfall from 17 days to seven.

Pending adjudication of the petition, the Court permitted Stracon India Ltd to withdraw a further one-sixth (16.67%) of the ₹68.73 crore deposited before the Delhi High Court. This takes the total withdrawal to 50% of the amount deposited. The withdrawal is subject to Stracon furnishing security for the additional one-sixth being released

Recording that Stracon had already withdrawn one third of the amount deposited before the High Court, a Division Bench of Justices Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Alok Aradhe permitted withdrawal of a further one sixth, taking the total withdrawal to 50% subject to furnishing security. The Court also directed the parties to file written submissions before the next date of hearing on August 17.

"Pending disposal of the Special Leave Petition, the respondent is permitted to withdraw one-sixth (16.67%) of the total amount deposited before the High Court which would make it 50% of the total amount deposited. This withdrawal will be subject to providing security for the remaining one-sixth (16.67%) amount.", the Court said.

Background

The dispute arose from a Global Rights Agreement dated 19 February 2000 under which Prasar Bharati granted Stracon India Ltd global marketing rights for BCCI domestic and international cricket matches till 30 September 2004 for a consideration of USD 43.5 million.

Alleging that Prasar Bharati had failed to provide the contracted number of cricketing days, Stracon invoked arbitration. By an award dated 26 December 2016, the arbitral tribunal awarded Stracon USD 5.509 million along with 18% interest and costs.

On 13 March 2020, a Single Judge partly set aside the award, holding that compensation could be claimed only for a seven-day shortfall instead of 17 days. On 23 January 2026, a Division Bench substantially affirmed that view, holding that Prasar Bharati was contractually obliged to provide 135 days of international cricket while reducing the compensable shortfall from 17 days to seven after including the India-Australia-New Zealand Triangular Series.