The minister is right that events of “national importance” should be viewed by the maximum number of people. What we question is his definition of “national importance”. The Ranji Trophy final concluded yesterday. It pitted Mumbai against West Bengal. It was telecast on Neo Sports, live. Not on DD. However, in spite of this undoubted insult to the premier “national” cricket contest, did you hear the veriest muffled protest from Dasmunshi? Did Doordarshan rush to the courts for the injustice to the public who missed a lovely one hundred from Tendulkar and beautiful bowling by Zaheer Khan?

Why not?

Speculation: Is it because “national” tournaments such as the Ranji or the PHL in hockey and the Federation Cup football (telecast on private sports channels) do not interest the average viewer — or is it the minister, the ministry and DD who are indifferent to their charms? Next week, Australian Open Tennis Champion Serena Williams and India’s Sania Mirza compete at Sony Ericsson competition in Bangalore — but only the privileged few with cable/DTH will see them because DD does not bother with such minor matters.

You would think that in order to popularise a sport such as tennis, in order to interest youngsters in sports, it would be in the national interest to telecast such tournaments. But Dasmunshi and DD’s definition of “national importance” is narrow and restrictive: It applies solely to international cricket tournaments featuring India. Or the Olympics, Asian Games, Davis Cup, etc. So is DD’s interest in these tournaments entirely altruistic or is there a commercial angle which defines national importance here?

... contd.