Page 63 - 31DEC2018E

COLUMN

Make telecast of national

level sports free for all

The Supreme Court whilst allowing the sporting events to be shared mandatorily with
HARD Prasar Bharati ruled that the public broadcaster cannot utilise it on a notified channel
LINE which has to be compulsorily carried by private distribution platforms

ANIL SINGH he stunning reverses suffered by commercial sporting event like IPL anyway
the broadcasters before the judi- ought not to be considered as sporting
ciary in the recent times in view events of national importance, Smriti Irani
The columnist is of its far-reaching implications in who was piloting the I&B Ministry in April
Executive Editor of T the ensuing times for the sports 2018 had other ideas.
News24 news broadcasting industry, government’s broad During her time in Shastri Bhawan,
channel. The views policy framework and the audience. The it seemed Star India was wrong when it
here expressed are the Supreme Court in its judgment in August fiercely bid to acquire long-term exclusive
author’s own 2017 in the Sports Broadcasting Signals media rights for the Indian Premier League
(Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) along with BCCI International and Do-
Act, 2007 which involved Star India and mestic Matches for an approximate value
Prasar Bharati, had finally confirmed the of INR 16,350 crores and INR 6,150 crores
Delhi High Court’s finding when it adjudi- respectively. on DD’s free-to-air platform squirm- • Game for it The Supreme Court has put the sports ministry, headed by Rajyavard-
cated that the original intent of the Act was The year 2017 was the first year for Star ing sports broadcasters. Not only are onus on sports broadcasters to take action han Singh Rathore, who now also has
to achieve twin purposes of making avail- India after it acquired rights for the IPL the rights-holders required to give live against erring private commercial platforms charge of the I&B ministry; neverthe-
able a live feed of a sporting event of na- and the Ministry inexplicably made them sports content free to DD as per the less, the latest move to amend the Act
tional importance to economically weaker sweat out before granting temporary live Sports Act, but they are also required to has again sent wrong signals. Such a
section of the society and consequently, the up-linking permission for a live broadcast run a marketing campaign for Doord- move is prone to prompt broadcasters
same should be made available on a free or of the IPL matches on their channels till arshan to drive audiences away from to revisit their investments in sporting
no cost basis. It was expected that the Apex the very last moment. This was nothing themselves to go somewhere else to rights.
Court’s verdict would put an end to a long- else but to arm-twist Star India to share all watch it. Reluctance on the part of broadcast-
drawn battle spanning over a decade. the live matches of Indian Premier League Now, if the broadcasters believed ers to defer or abandon investments
with Doordarshan for free, even though that the Supreme Court’s decision on in picking up rights can culminate in a
Triggering of Controversy IPL, which is a privately-owned club cricket the Sports Act in August 2017 had finally reduction of income of sports fed-
The Supreme Court whilst allowing the league and can in no way be considered as settled the issue, unfortunately, it was erations, which in turn would find it
sporting events of national importance to a sporting event of national importance. In not to be. On 24th October, the Ministry cumbersome to invest in the develop-
be shared mandatorily with Prasar Bharati the end, Star India had no other option but released a notice seeking feedback/ I&B minister Smriti ment and promotion of sport thereby
ruled that the public broadcaster cannot to give something to the power that is and comments on draft Sports Broadcast- Irani’s suggestion entailing potential of deterioration in
utilise it on a notified channel which has to they gave in to share with Prasar Bharati ing Signals (Mandatory) sharing with the overall sports ecosystem. Even if
be compulsorily carried by private distribu- the inaugural, the playoffs held on week- Prasar Bharati (Amendment) Bill, 2018. that BCCI’s Indian the present dispensation at the helm is
tion platforms. Although the ruling of the ends and the last four matches of IPL, with The ministry wants to amend Section Premier League (IPL), insistent on carrying forward its move,
Supreme Court was not followed in letter a deferred live feed of at least 60 minutes. 3(1) of the Sports Act to ensure man- then it would be advisable that rather
and spirit by Prasar Bharati, it put the onus No surprise, Smriti Irani claimed victory datory sharing of the signals of such be covered under than doing it in a piecemeal manner
on sports broadcasters to take legal action for bringing IPL for the first time ever on sporting events with “other networks, the Act has not been in forcing sports broadcasters to share
against erring private commercial plat- Doordarshan. where it is mandatory to show the more sporting events why doesn’t the
forms carrying “live” sports feeds. Rather Not getting the “live” feed of IPL matches Doordarshan channels as per the Cable accepted by the Government nationalise at one go so
than encrypt Doordarshan’s feed, the and unable to make legislative moves to Television Networks (Regulation) there is clarity on sports broadcast-
Ministry ordered the Distribution Platform amend the judgement of the Supreme Act, 1995”. sports ministry. ing? This will also make Doordarshan
Operators to run a ticker stating that “the Court as she did not find support amongst The latest move to the only sports broadcaster in the
match/game can be viewed in free-to-air her ministerial colleagues the Irani-led Way out country and thus can ring-fence them
mode on DD Sports Channel, on DD Free Ministry issued a notice mandating all Undoubtedly, then I&B minister Smriti amend the Sports from competition from private sports
Dish and DD’s terrestrial network”. sports channels broadcasting live sports Irani’s suggestion that BCCI’s the Indian Act, somehow, has broadcasters!!
Whilst the Supreme Court put away any of “national importance” to display a ticker Premier League (IPL), be covered under
confusion on the Sports Act and a private stating the same match was also available the Act has not been accepted by the sent wrong signals LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

TEHELKA / 31 DECEMBER 2018 62 WWW.TEHELKA.COM TEHELKA / 31 DECEMBER 2018 63 WWW.TEHELKA.COM

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