India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has called on pay-television operators to prove they are carrying 26 channels, including DD Sports, that are operated by public-service broadcaster Doordarshan.
The Television Post website reports MIB has called on operators to provide affidavits that they are carrying the 26 channels that are deemed compulsory under section eight of The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
The operators have been given a one-month deadline to supply the affidavits, with Television Post stating the Ministry has acted as several are not carrying all channels.
The inclusion of DD Sports in this portfolio of mandatory free channels is likely to affect rival sports broadcasters, which rely on subscription revenue to recoup investment in sports rights.
The Ministry has ruled that the carriage of Doordarshan’s channels is necessary as they provide accurate information about policies and programmes of the government, acceleration of socio-economic change and promotion of national integration, among other factors.