NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued directives to broadcast rights holders of sporting events for the India region that details around “sporting events of national importance” should be shared with pubcaster Prasar Bharati 45 days prior to the commencement of any event.
The stated purpose of the directive is that it would enable Prasar Bharati to approach “the rights holders well in time before the start of the event for better planning, scheduling, marketing and coordination” with said rights holder.
The Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007, mandates mandatory sharing of all sporting events, which are notified as sporting events of national importance with Prasar Bharati.
“All Broadcasters/permitted private satellite TV channels, who gets the broadcasting rights of any Sporting events, which have been notified as Sporting events of National Importance by this Ministry, are hereby called upon to comply with the above provisions of the Rules and inform Prasar Bharati about the same immediately so as to enable Prasar Bharati to approach the Rights Holders well in time before the start of the event for better planning, scheduling, marketing, and coordination with the Rights Holder,” the ministry noted.
As per the MIB’s directive, “well in time” means at least 45 days “prior to the proposed date of telecast or broadcast”.
“Every content rights owner or holder and television or radio broadcasting service provider” that holds rights to “sporting events of national importance” in accordance with the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act 2007, falls within the ambit of the MIB’s directive.
