President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has promulgated the ordinance making it mandatory for private broadcasters to share live telecast right of all sporting events of national interest with public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, in other words, Doordarshan and All-India Radio.

The ordinance was signed on Friday following a meeting between the President and I&B Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi where the minister, in response to Kalam’s concerns, explained how “public interest” was indeed being served by such an ordinance.

What seems to have helped Dasmunsi get the Presidential nod before the Indo-Sri Lankan cricket series begins on February 8, is the clause in the ordinance that a chunk of the revenue — nearly 19.5 of 25 per cent — that Prasar Bharati would earn from the mandatory sharing of (cricket) rights would go to cross-subsidise less popular sports such as kabaddi, rifle-pistol and women’s hockey.

The President also sought explanation as to why an ordinance was required when a Parliament session was due in a few weeks times. The urgency of bringing an ordinance, it was explained, was to ensure that a law was (as indicated by the court) in place before the next Indo-Sri Lankan cricket series.