New Delhi: In a bonanza for the cricket loving citizens of the country, the Narendra Modi government is contemplating to bring in regulations to allow telecast of cricket matches on Doordarshan channels carried on DTH platforms.
Currently, only cricket matches of national importance are allowed on Doordarshan and that too only on teressertrial network of the national broadcaster.
Sources stated that the Union information and broadcasting ministry has sought the opinion of the law and justice ministry regarding the issue.
The top officials of the ministry are understood to be studying the proposal for mandatory sharing of telecast feed provision for those who could not afford to pay for cable TV subscription.
It is learnt that the move to bring in the new broadcast regulations to ease telecast of cricket matches comes after last year’s Supreme Court decision that Prasar Bharati can air the feed from private broadcasters, only on terrestrial network and Free Dish but not on Doordarshan channels carried by cable operators and private DTH platforms.
Last year’s Supreme Court verdict on the issue meant that Prasar Bharati cannot share the feed it gets from rights owners on Doordarshan channels that have to be compulsorily carried by all cable and DTH companies.
Under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007, private broadcasters are obliged to share live broadcasting signals of sporting events of national importance with Prasar Bharati.
But Section 8 of the Cable Television Networks Act makes it mandatory for all cable operators to carry two Doordarshan channels. The proposed changes would mean that cable operators can get access to the broadcast of sporting events through two avenues, through private channels, by paying subscription fees, and via the channels of Doordarshan.
Sources stated that this would also allow sports viewers avoid subscribing to expensive sports channel bouquets and make do with the Doordarshan channels being carried on the respective DTH platforms.
