Malé, Maldives – Civil Court has refused to allow MediaNet and two other companies to intervene in the court case filed by Dhiraagu against the decision not to issue broadcasting licenses to foreign-owned companies.
The case was filed by Dhiraagu over Maldives Broadcasting Commissions (MBC) decision not to renew their DhiraaguTV license.
Section 8 of the revised Licensing Rules for Rebroadcasting of Maldives Broadcasting Commissions (MBC) states that the applicant for rebroadcast should be a 100% Maldivian-owned company.
With Bahrain company, BTC Islands Limited (Batelco) holding 52% of the shares, when Dhiraagu applied for renewal of the rebroadcasting license on July 7 this year, MBC decided that the license could not be renewed under the new amendment.
MediaNet, Edhafushi Cable Network and Sky Life Co Pvt Ltd had requested to intervene in the case. However, the Civil Court yesterday decided not to allow any of the companies to intervene in the case.
The court ruled that the case relates to a decision by the Broadcasting Commission not to renew Dhiraagu license and that MediaNet and the other two companies had no role or interest in the decision.
Pending the outcome of the case, the Civil Court had earlier issued an interim order to maintain DhiraaguTV‘s license. The Broadcasting Commission had appealed the case.
Dhiraagu has previously stated that they remained hopeful to renew DhiraaguTV’s rebroadcasting license despite the restrictions due to the changes brought to the regulation by Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC).
