Indian public-service broadcaster Doordarshan has signalled its intention to enter into the sports event business with plans to form three university leagues dedicated to basketball, tackle football and kabaddi.
Doordarshan director general, Supriya Sahu, told the Live Mint website that the broadcaster is in talks with a US company holding experience in the college sports sector to assist with the project.
Sahu said the vision is to develop a public-private partnership to form a structure for university sports, beginning with basketball, tackle football and kabaddi before later expanding to others.
“DD Sports is in the process of reinvigorating the content of the channel and rebranding it to make it relevant for its target audience,” Sahu said. “Sports leagues are major content differentiators in the genre. It sees potential in university sports.”
Sahu added that zonal matches from the leagues would be broadcast by Doordarshan’s regional channels, with the finals being afforded coverage on the national network.
She said: “However, all the matches will be aired on DD Sports. The leagues will be launched with a strategic publicity and promotion plan which includes cross-channel, print, radio and outdoor publicity.”