Supreme Court rejects PIVOTT move to block PFJL’s Jamaica Premier League broadcast

Judges at Jamaica’s highest court have refused a PIVOTT LLC bid for an interim order stopping Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) from producing and broadcasting the Jamaica Premier League (JPL).

Twelve months ago, PIVOTT LLC was publicly named the league’s official broadcaster, yet the tie-up later collapsed and both sides headed to court.

The company pressed for the restraining order after launching civil action that seeks more than $100 million, alleging broken contract terms and breaches of a non-disclosure agreement.

In the same judgment, the bench told PIVOTT to cover PFJL’s legal bills for this application and rejected, on the spot, a spoken plea from PIVOTT’s counsel for leave to appeal the decision, shutting the door for now on that route.

Attorney-at-Law Emile Leiba steered PFJL’s side through arguments that opened last Thursday and wrapped up today.

The broader PIVOTT complaint is still on foot. PFJL states that its lawyers are drafting and lodging an answer to the merits of the case and will ask the court to throw out the claim in its entirety.

PFJL Interim Chairman Donovan White said the organisation welcomes the ruling: “We are happy that justice has prevailed and that the Court saw this matter for what it was and ruled accordingly. This matter has caused the PFJL and the JPL considerable pain with our partners and stakeholders, and we are, therefore, pleased to put this aspect behind us and pivot to the successful start of the JPL Playoffs.”

White added that PFJL still backs long-term expansion, marketing, and professional standards for the tournament that sits at the apex of domestic club football.

The JPL playoffs will begin tomorrow at the National Stadium.