After a long gap Test cricket will return to the terrestrial and free to air service market in India as the state-owned DD Sports through a special arrangement have acquired the rights for the broadcast of the World Test Championship Final between India and New Zealand, beginning Friday, June 18.
The match will be available only on DD FreeDish DTH (direct-to-home)’s DD Sports 1 channel and would also be available to Doordarshan's DTT (digital terrestrial television) services in 19 cities.
According to News on Air, FreeDish users can also listen to the Live Radio Cricket Commentary of the game at Southampton by All India Radio across the country. Apart from the broadcast of the final match on DD Sports, All India Radio Cricket commentary will be available on DD FreeDish DTH Satellite Radio.
All India Radio’s FM Rainbow Channels, FM Local Radio Stations (LRS), Digital Radio Transmitters (DRM) and Additional FM Transmitters would also be able to broadcast the audio commentary by the AIR.
“As per Supreme Court directives of 2017, the match shared under the Mandatory Sharing of Sports Signals Act is meant only for Doordarshan's own platforms. Hence it (the tournament) will be available only on DD FreeDish DTH (direct-to-home) and Doordarshan's DTT (digital terrestrial television) services in 19 cities," Shashi Shekhar Vempati, CEO, Prasar Bharti (the state-owned umbrella body of broadcasting) was quoted as saying to Mint.
It is mandatory through the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing With Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007 (or Sports Act) enacted by the Parliament, for private channels to allow for broadcast signals to be shared with Prasar Bharati in case of sporting events of national importance.