MUMBAI: Zee`s music talent hunt Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge, which has locked horns with the Indian Music Industry over license fees, has emerged a winner in the latest ratings stakes.Zee TV`s musical talent hunt show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007 has touched its highest note so far by clocking a TVR of 8.4 on 21 July. Incidentally, in an order passed by the Delhi High Court on 10 July 2007, Zee had been restrained from featuring in its programmes published music (musical compositions, lyrics and songs) without obtaining prior license from the rights holders Indian performing Rights Society Limited (IPRS) and Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL). Zee TV could either have to stop broadcast, obtain a license, or both, according to an official statement issued the same day by the Indian Music Industry (IMI), of which PPL is the specialized wing that addresses licensing and copyright issues. While the two bodies sought a response from Zee TV before the 20 and 21 July episodes, the broadcaster had said that since this was an ex parte order, it would be allowed time to examine the contents of the order.

The legal action had followed failure of negotiations between the two parties. The television network had received a license for the show during the 2005-06 edition of the show, but had not renewed the same for the next year due to a breakdown in negotiations.

It is learnt that the court held a special hearing of the case last week. Zee`s Ashish Kaul maintains that the broadcaster is waiting for IPRS and PPL to give it a list of the songs whose use has been found objectionable. The next hearing of the case is slated for October, it is learnt. Zee TV will now spice up its upcoming episode of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa with special appearances from Vidya Balan and Riteish Deshmukh, both promoting their upcoming film Heyy Baby. In earlier episodes, the series featured Sunny Deol promoting his film Apne.