Doordarshan does a deal with ESPN-Star

Doordarshan, India's state broadcaster, has done a deal with ESPN-Star in which they will get a free live feed in case ESPN-Star wins the cable telecast rights of all cricket matches played in India for the next four years, in return for a share of revenues. Those rights are currently up for auction, with the terrestrial rights guaranteed to Doordarshan, with legislation due that will guarantee Doordarshan the rights of all matches involving India.

The del is a win-win agreement, as Doordarshan will not have to take the effort of producing their own live feed, and ESPN-Star will increase their revenues by simply sharing the live feed they would have produced anyway. The extra revenues expected from such a deal is likely to enable ESPN-Star to bid higher than their rivals, Ten Sports and Sony Entertainment Television, and makes them the favourites to win the rights.