Jammu court bars 18 cable operators from rebroadcasting JioStar shows, sports content

A court in Jammu has restrained 18 cable operators across Jammu & Kashmir from rebroadcasting live sports and entertainment content of JioStar India Private Limited without authorization [JioStar India Private Limited Star House V/s M/S Take One & Ors.]..Principal District Judge RN Watal passed the order on a civil suit filed by JioStar seeking permanent injunction and damages of ₹2 crore for alleged infringement of its copyright and broadcast reproduction rights.“After given my thoughtful consideration to submissions made at bar, subject to objections from other side and till next date of hearing, defendants are restrained from retransmitting, rebroadcasting, disseminating, exhibiting and/or communicating the plaintiff’s content, including TV shows, JioStar Channels, Free -to-Air Channels carried over DD Free Dish or sports content including, inter-alia, ongoing and upcoming sporting events of national importance, through any channel, medium, frequency or mode other than the authorised channels of the plaintiff,” the Court said..JioStar submitted that it holds exclusive broadcast and distribution rights for over 100 television channels in multiple languages and has secured exclusive media rights for several major sporting events through agreements with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).The company alleged that despite termination of its Subscription Licence Agreement (SLA) with one of the defendants (Take One) due to non-payment of dues and subsequent disconnection of signals in December 2025, it continued re-transmitting its channels and live sports content.It was further alleged that the defendants illegally downlinked channels via DD Free Dish and rebroadcast them to subscribers, including coverage of time-bound events such as the TATA Women’s Premier League 2026 and the New Zealand Tour of India 2026..Such acts violate provisions of the Copyright Act, 1957 and the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, as well as the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, which mandate written authorization from broadcasters for retransmission, it was argued..After hearing the counsel and examining the records, the Court observed that JioStar's application for interim relief was supported by an affidavit and documentary material, including video clips showing alleged unauthorised broadcasts.It, thus, restrained the 18 known cable operators, along with unknown cable operators (impleaded as John Doe), from retransmitting, rebroadcasting, disseminating, or communicating JioStar’s content..The matter will be heard next on March 12..Advocate Vastav Sharma represented JioStar.Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi appeared represented Take One JK Media.Senior Advocate Vikram Sharma represented other defendants.[Read Order]