Sony Entertainment Television India has threatened to sue the News Corp-controlled Global Cricket Corporation, which has the worlwide rights to the telecast of the ICC Cricket World Cup, if the ESPN-Star Sports combine -- another News Corp entity -- decides to beam programming or package content for Doordarshan during the World Cup.

SET India had procured the cable and satellite telecast rights for the Indian sub-continent from Global Cricket Corporation for ICC cricket matches, including the World Cup, over seven years in a $255 million (approximately Rs 1,250 crore) deal.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which has a controlling stake in Global Cricket Corporation, also has a 50 per cent stake in the ESPN-Star Sports joint venture.

Kunal Dasgupta, chief executive officer of SET India told Business Standard: "As per our contract, Global Cricket Corporation and its affiliates cannot undertake any programming or packaging of content for any rival channel during the World Cup. In case ESPN-Star Sports decides to do so on Doordarshan, we will certainly seek legal recourse. For the moment though, we have taken up the issue with Global Cricket Corporation and are discussing the recent developments, as perceived by us, with them."

Additionally, Dasgupta said if Global Cricket Corporation permitted Doordarshan to telecast matches other than those already agreed upon, that would also constitute a violation of contract terms by Global Cricket Corporation.

SET has also reacted to the announcement by Nimbus, which said Doordarshan had entered into an arrangement with Global Cricket Corporation for enhanced coverage on its terrestrial networks for the World Cup, and is planning  moving court on the issue.

Nimbus Communications is the airtime marketing agent for Doordarshan for World Cup matches.

Dasgupta said Doordarshan could not telecast any match other than the 16 matches agreed upon during the pendency of the World Cup.

Doordarshan initially had the rights to telecast 16 matches "live". But according to an  announcement made by Nimbus, it had entered a new deal with Doordarshan to cover the telecast of a total of 43 matches, including the 16 original matches.