Sportscasting – Charting A Course For Sports Broadcasting Reforms

Aryan M Kurup, Provisionally Admitted at West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata

ABSTRACT

Since the advent of human civilisation sports have been an integral part of mankind. Sports provide a distraction from the misery and despair that the real world exudes. It evokes in humans a mix of positive emotions. As advancements in science and technology have been made, sports has become accessible to a much large viewer base. This is thanks to the evolution of sports broadcasting or simply, ‘SportsCasting’. Sports Broadcasting has evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry which is subject to a complex and ever changing legal framework. This paper delves into the intricacies of sports law in India, its ambiguities and unresolved issues, the ramifications that come as a consequence of these issues and the possible measures that can be put forward to refine the regulatory frameworks that govern sports broadcasting.

The paper commences by delving deep into the constitutional underpinnings of the sports broadcasting realm, and examining the various laws that compose the sportscasting regulations such as the Cable Television Networks (Regulations) Act, the National Sports Development Code, the Sports Broadcasting Signals Act and others. The paper then explores the various ambiguities and unresolved problems that these regulations have present within them and the consequences of these problems on the various private broadcasters and the general public. These include the vague language present in these laws, the problem of overspilling and the revenue loss suffered by private broadcasters due to the clause of mandatory sharing of the broadcast with Prasar Bharati. The paper then attempts to give possible solutions to these problems for the benefit of the general public and the private broadcasters who suffer revenue losses for no fault of their own. In conclusion, the paper offers a critical assessment of the current state of sports broadcasting laws, identifying areas for reform and modernization. It proposes strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of regulatory frameworks and ensuring the continued growth and prosperity of the sports broadcasting industry.