BENGALURU: Doordarshan has pulled out all stops to showcase the ongoing second Khelo India University Games 2021 being held here.
In keeping with the biggest multi-disciplinary university sports event in India – 3,500 athletes from 209 Universities competing in 20 disciplines over 10 days, the public broadcaster has mounted a spectacle.
Broadcasting the first multi-discipline sports event since the National Games 2015, Doordarshan has imbibed the evolution in technology, broadcasting techniques, and livestreams over the past few years in producing images not only for its channels but also for six separate streams on Prasar Bharati Sports’ YouTube channel.
Over 150 cameras, manned by more than 85 camerapersons, are tracking events at five different locations in and around the Karnataka capital. Eight cameras, including two slow-motion cameras are in use at each venue for the live broadcast. Five Outside Broadcasting vans have been deployed to ensure an all day (0700-1900) production from the Games.
In addition to a 250-member pan-India crew, the broadcaster has brought on board 35 commentators. These include veterans like Milind Wagle, Sanjay Banerjee and Charu Sharma as well as former athletes like Trupti Murgunde and anchor Sunil Taneja. Three shows anchored from the Delhi studios, preview and review the events through the day.
“With changing times, technological innovation is necessary, but it has also enabled us evolve and learn, which is very valuable. We are now able to bring in various inputs, analysis and expertise seamlessly into our commentary, hoping it makes for pleasurable viewing,” Wagle said.
Sanjay Banerjee said broadcasting a grassroot sporting event on such a vast scale will serve to inspire young athletes. “Doordarshan has a huge reach. And the objective of this broadcast is similar to the objective of the Games itself. Athletes should feel proud to be part of this competition, get inspired, and perhaps feel the support from the system.”
