The Indian government has issued a ruling ordering privately-held broadcasters to share rights to key matches played by the national cricket team with public-service broadcaster Doordarshan.
The Zee News website said the government has moved to revise an act entitled Sports Broadcast Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Rules 2007.
The revision encompasses all one-day international and Twenty20 games played by the men’s national team, as well as certain Test matches deemed of “high public interest” by the government.
This is in addition to the semi-finals and final of International Cricket Council-organised ODI tournaments the World Cup and Champions Trophy.
The move supersedes an earlier ruling made in August 2012 and comes amid a busy home cricket season for India. The national team is currently engaged in a series against New Zealand, which is set to be followed by games against England, Australia and Bangladesh.