THE EVOLVING LEGAL LANDSCAPE OF SPORTS EVENT BROADCASTING

This Article is written by Midha Fatima of Asian Law College, Noida, an intern under Legal Vidhiya. 

Abstract 

This study offers a thorough analysis of the complex legal framework controlling sports event broadcasting. It systematically dissects the foundational role of intellectual property rights, particularly focusing on broadcast reproduction rights, copyright in production elements, and the protection afforded by trademark and personality rights. The article further explores the critical function of sophisticated contractual frameworks, specifically broadcasting rights agreements, in commercializing sports content across various platforms and territories. It then delves into the significance of regulatory oversight, exemplified by India’s Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007, which balances commercial interests with public access and competition. Finally, the article addresses the escalating challenges posed by piracy and unauthorized streaming, discussing their severe economic consequences and the multi-faceted legal and technological strategies employed to combat them. Through a discussion of international instruments and key jurisprudence, this paper highlights the dynamic interplay between law, technology, and commerce in shaping the global sports broadcasting industry. 

Keywords 

Sports Broadcasting, Intellectual Property, Broadcasting Rights, Copyright, Broadcast Reproduction Rights, Media Rights, Sports Law, Regulatory Oversight, Piracy, Unauthorized Streaming, India, Prasar Bharati, Contract Law, Public Interest, Antitrust Law. 

Introduction 

The realm of sports event broadcasting, once a relatively straightforward undertaking primarily confined to terrestrial radio and analog television, has undergone a profound metamorphosis, evolving into an extraordinarily complex and multifaceted legal environment. This dramatic transformation is fundamentally influenced by a confluence of rapidly developing digital technologies, the astronomical financial stakes now inherent in securing and distributing premium sports content, and the inherently international scope of contemporary athletic competitions. From the nascent days of rudimentary radio commentaries to the ultra-high-definition, multi-platform, and interactive viewing experiences available today, the journey of sports broadcasting has been marked by continuous innovation, each technological leap introducing new legal dilemmas and commercial opportunities that demand sophisticated regulatory and contractual responses. 

Historically, the broadcasting of sports was often viewed through a lens of public service, with state-owned entities frequently holding a monopoly over major events. But a significant change occurred in the second half of the 20th century, driven by the introduction of satellite television, the growth of private broadcasters, and the increasing commercialization of sports in general. This era saw sports entities recognizing the immense revenue potential embedded in their media rights, leading to an increasing privatization of broadcasting access. The internet age, beginning in the late 1990s and exploding in the 21st century, further accelerated this commercialization, introducing an unprecedented array of distribution channels from dedicated streaming services to social media platforms. Each new platform, while offering broader reach and personalized consumption, concurrently presented novel challenges in terms of rights management, territoriality, and infringement detection. The sheer volume of data generated, the immediacy of content delivery, and the global interconnectedness of digital networks have collectively created a legal quagmire that requires constant re-evaluation and adaptation. 

At the very core of this intricate landscape lie substantial financial investments. Broadcasting rights for major sporting events, such as the Olympic Games, the FIFA World Cup, or prominent professional leagues like the Indian Premier League or the English Premier League, now command sums ranging into billions of dollars. These colossal figures underscore not only the immense popularity of sports as a global entertainment product but also the critical economic dependency of sports organizations on these media revenues. These funds are indispensable for player salaries, stadium infrastructure development, grassroots sports promotion, and the overall operational sustainability of professional sports. Consequently, any disruption to the legitimate monetization of these rights—whether through technological obsolescence of legal frameworks or pervasive piracy—has profound implications for the entire sports ecosystem. The protection of these investments, therefore, becomes a paramount concern, driving the evolution of legal strategies and technological countermeasures. 

Beyond the financial dimension, the international scope of contemporary sports inherently complicates its legal governance. Athletes, teams, and fans transcend national borders, creating a demand for global access to sporting spectacles. However, legal jurisdictions remain largely national, leading to complex questions of cross-border intellectual property enforcement, divergent regulatory approaches, and the harmonization of contractual terms across multiple territories. Enforcing territorially limited rights in a globally accessible online environment is made more difficult by the digital realm’s inherent ability to render geographical boundaries porous. This constant tension between the global appetite for sports content and the traditionally localized nature of legal enforcement creates a dynamic and often challenging environment for rights holders and broadcasters alike. 

This study comprehensively explores the multifaceted legal issues surrounding the broadcasting of both live and recorded athletic events. It begins by meticulously dissecting the foundational role of intellectual property rights, which serve as the primary legal instruments for commercializing sports broadcasts. This includes a detailed examination of broadcast reproduction rights, the nuances of copyright in the creative elements of production, and the critical role of trademark and personality rights in protecting the brand and persona associated with sports. Following this, the analysis delves into the critical function of sophisticated contractual frameworks, specifically broadcasting rights agreements, which act as the commercial engines enabling the distribution of sports content across diverse platforms and territories. The importance of regulatory oversight is then the main topic of the paper, with particular legislative initiatives such as India’s Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007 serving as examples. This section will explore how such regulations attempt to strike a crucial balance between legitimate commercial interests, ensuring fair competition, and safeguarding the broader public’s right to access events of national importance. Finally, the article confronts one of the most pressing contemporary challenges: the escalating problem of piracy and unauthorized streaming. It will discuss their severe economic consequences for the industry and analyze the multi-faceted legal and technological strategies employed globally to combat these illicit activities. Through a systematic discussion of key international instruments and significant jurisprudence from various jurisdictions, this paper aims to illuminate the dynamic and ever-evolving interplay between law, technology, and commerce that fundamentally shapes the global sports broadcasting industry. It seeks to demonstrate how legal frameworks are continuously tested and adapted by technological innovation and commercial pressures, reflecting a perpetual quest to balance competing interests in a rapidly changing world. 

The Foundation of Broadcasting Rights: Intellectual Property 

At the heart of sports broadcasting lies the concept of intellectual property (IP). While a sporting event itself, as a public performance or a mere happening, is generally not subject to copyright protection under most jurisdictions—as copyright typically protects fixed, original expressions rather than transient events—the creative elements involved in its capture, production, and transmission are indeed rigorously protected. The foundation of intellectual property rights in sports broadcasting is this important distinction. The creative labor and significant financial investment poured into transforming a live sporting event into a broadcastable product are what merit legal protection. This includes, but is not limited to, the live broadcast signals themselves, the meticulously recorded audiovisual footage, the accompanying commentary that adds narrative and insight, custom-designed graphics and statistical overlays, and any other artistic or literary works intrinsically incorporated into the broadcast. 

The broadcast signals, in particular, are afforded a special and distinct form of protection known as “broadcast reproduction rights” or “related rights” (also known as “neighboring rights” in some jurisdictions). These rights recognize the independent creative and economic contribution of broadcasting organizations, distinct from the creators of the original content they may transmit. Without such specific protection, broadcasters would be vulnerable to immediate retransmission or recording by unauthorized third parties, severely undermining their commercial models. 

International Frameworks and National Legislation 

International agreements such as the Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms, and Broadcasting Organizations of 1961 provide fundamental guidelines for protecting broadcasters’ rights. This multilateral treaty, a cornerstone of international intellectual property law, grants broadcasting organizations specific exclusive rights. Under Article 13 of this convention, broadcasters are granted the sole authority to permit or forbid the rebroadcasting of their broadcasts, the fixation (recording) of their broadcasts, the reproduction of such fixations, and the public dissemination of their television broadcasts where a charge is made for admission. These rights are usually given for 20 years after the end of the year in which the broadcast took place[1]. The Rome Convention was pivotal in establishing a harmonized international standard for the protection of broadcasters, recognizing their vital role in disseminating creative works and information. 

Many national legislations worldwide, including India’s Copyright Act, 1957, have meticulously incorporated and expanded upon these international protections. The “broadcast reproduction right” of Indian broadcasting organizations is specifically covered by Section 37 of the Copyright Act, 1957. This clause gives broadcasting organizations the sole authority to perform or permit the performance of a number of actions, such as rebroadcasting their programming, allowing the public to hear or view their programming in exchange for an admission fee, and creating any kind of sound or visual recording of their programming[2]. Critically, this legal framework explicitly criminalizes signal piracy and unauthorized retransmission, providing a strong deterrent against illegal appropriation of broadcast content. The existence of such robust legal protection is paramount because it safeguards the significant financial investments made by broadcasters in acquiring costly content rights and producing high-quality sports broadcasts. Without such protection, the incentive for broadcasters to invest in covering events would diminish drastically, potentially impacting the financial viability of sports organizations and leagues themselves, which heavily rely on broadcasting revenues. 

Beyond Broadcast Reproduction Rights: A Broader IP Landscape 

Beyond the specific broadcast reproduction rights, copyright protection extends to a myriad of creative elements that constitute a comprehensive sports broadcast. This includes the compilation of highlights reels, where the selection and arrangement of clips demonstrate originality; the artistic choice of camera angles and their dynamic sequencing; the meticulous editing processes that shape the narrative and flow of the broadcast; and the accompanying musical scores or other audio elements that enhance the viewing experience. Each of these elements, being original literary or artistic works, can be individually protected by copyright[3].

Furthermore, trademarks are absolutely crucial in the sports broadcasting ecosystem. They safeguard leagues’ unique names, logos, slogans, and other brand identifiers (e.g., the Indian Premier League, NBA), individual teams (e.g., Mumbai Indians, Los Angeles Lakers), major sporting events (e.g., the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup), and the broadcasters themselves (e.g., Star Sports, ESPN). The unauthorized use of these trademarks in broadcasts, promotional materials, or merchandise can give rise to claims for trademark infringement, potentially leading to significant legal penalties and financial damages. Trademark law ensures that consumers can reliably identify the source of sports content and associated products, and it protects the considerable goodwill and reputation built by these entities. 

Additionally, in certain jurisdictions, the images and likenesses of athletes are protected by personality rights or “rights of publicity.” These rights, which vary in scope and nature across different legal systems, generally forbid the commercial exploitation of an individual’s identity—including their name, image, voice, or signature—without their explicit permission. This is particularly relevant in sports broadcasting, where athletes are central figures. Broadcasters and advertisers must secure the necessary clearances and licenses to use athletes’ images in commercials, promotional content, or even in certain broadcast segments that go beyond merely reporting on the sporting event itself. The unauthorized commercial exploitation of an athlete’s persona can result in claims for infringement of personality rights, leading to legal actions and financial liabilities. 

The Contractual Backbone: Broadcasting Rights Agreements 

The commercial exploitation of sports events is primarily facilitated through a complex web of broadcasting rights agreements. These are highly sophisticated and meticulously negotiated contracts executed between the ultimate owners of sports events (e.g., major sports leagues like the Premier League, national sports federations such as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), or organizing committees for mega-events like the Olympic Games) and various broadcasting entities (e.g., traditional television networks, radio stations, and increasingly, digital streaming services). These agreements form the financial and operational backbone of the sports broadcasting industry, granting broadcasters exclusive or non-exclusive licenses to transmit events across various platforms, including traditional television, radio, and the rapidly expanding digital streaming services, within clearly defined geographical territories and for specific durations[4]. 

The sheer value of these rights has escalated dramatically over recent decades, leading to intense and often aggressive bidding wars among broadcasting conglomerates. Major sports properties, such as the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, and major domestic leagues, routinely command billions of dollars in media rights fees, underscoring the critical and central role of these agreements in the global sports ecosystem. These revenues are vital for the financial health of sports organizations, enabling them to fund operations, invest in infrastructure, develop grassroots sports, and compensate athletes. 

Key Elements of Broadcasting Rights Contracts 

Broadcasting rights agreements are intricate legal documents, typically comprising several key elements that define the scope and terms of the partnership. Often, broadcasters seek exclusivity to maximize their return on investment and differentiate their offerings, and this exclusivity can be absolute or tied to specific platforms, such as exclusive linear TV rights or exclusive digital streaming rights. Furthermore, rights are invariably granted for specific geographical regions, reflecting the global reach of sports and the necessity for localized content distribution, while the duration of these agreements typically spans several years, providing stability for both rights holders and broadcasters. The payment structures involved are diverse and often complex, encompassing substantial upfront fees, various revenue-sharing models from advertising or subscriptions, and sometimes performance-based incentives. These contracts also meticulously specify conditions for sub-licensing, dictating whether the primary rights holder can parcel out portions of the rights to other broadcasters. Lastly, these agreements often cover a range of ancillary rights, extending beyond the live broadcast to include rights related to highlights, archival footage, and the use of team or athlete imagery for promotional purposes. The negotiation and scrupulous enforcement of these contracts are absolutely essential to the smooth functioning and profitability of the sports broadcasting sector; any violation or breach of these highly valuable contracts may result in severe legal issues, including significant monetary fines, injunctions, and reputational damage for the infringing party[5].

Regulatory Oversight and Public Interest Considerations 

Governments and regulatory bodies globally play an increasingly crucial role in overseeing the sports broadcasting landscape. Their intervention is often driven by a fundamental need to strike a delicate balance between the commercial interests of rights holders and broadcasters, on one hand, and the broader public’s right to access events of significant national importance and the imperatives of competition, on the other. 

In India, for instance, the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007, exemplifies this form of regulatory intervention. This landmark Act mandates that private broadcasters holding content rights for “sporting events of national importance” must compulsorily share their live broadcasting signals with Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster, which operates Doordarshan (television) and All India Radio. This sharing occurs on a revenue-sharing basis, ensuring that private entities are compensated, albeit partially, for their exclusive content[6]. The primary objective of this legislative framework is profoundly rooted in public interest: to ensure that significant national events, particularly those that evoke widespread public interest (such as cricket World Cup matches involving India or Olympic events where Indian athletes are prominent), remain accessible to a broader audience on a free-to-air platform. This prevents a complete monopolization of such events by exclusive pay-TV channels, ensuring democratic access to culturally significant sporting spectacles for all citizens, irrespective of their ability to pay for subscription services. This legislation starkly highlights the inherent tension between the immense commercial value of exclusive broadcasting rights and the public’s right to access events of significant national importance. 

Antitrust and Competition Law 

Furthermore, antitrust and competition laws are frequently invoked to prevent anti-competitive practices in the acquisition and distribution of broadcasting rights. Concerns about market dominance, potential price gouging by monopolistic rights holders or broadcasters, and the potential for reduced consumer choice or innovation have led to rigorous scrutiny of exclusive deals, particularly those for highly popular sports. Regulatory bodies in various jurisdictions, including the European Union and the United States, have investigated and, in some cases, imposed conditions on the sale of broadcasting rights to foster competition among broadcasters, sometimes compelling leagues to sell rights in smaller, non-exclusive packages. 

Courts in many countries have consistently emphasized that airwaves are public property and, as such, cannot be monopolized by a few private entities for exclusive commercial gain. This fundamental principle has been affirmed by the Indian Supreme Court in landmark cases such as Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting v. Cricket Association of Bengal, (1995) 2 SCC 161. This case, among others, established the principle that while private entities can acquire commercial rights to broadcast, the inherent public nature of the airwaves necessitates some degree of public access or regulatory oversight, especially for events of significant public interest. This judicial stance forms the philosophical underpinning for legislation like the Sports Broadcasting Signals Act[7].

Beyond these broad principles, regulatory bodies also address a range of other issues related to broadcasting standards, including advertising standards (e.g., restrictions on certain types of advertising or ensuring truthfulness in advertisements), content classification (e.g., age restrictions or warnings for certain content), and fair reporting (e.g., ensuring impartiality in news coverage related to sports). These measures aim to ensure that broadcasts adhere to established societal norms and consumer protection principles. 

Challenges: Unauthorized Streaming and Piracy 

Despite the existence of robust legal protections and advanced technological safeguards, sports broadcasters face a persistent and escalating threat from illegal streaming and piracy. The advent of high-speed internet and the proliferation of advanced digital technologies have paradoxically made it simpler and more cost-effective for criminal organizations and individuals to record, capture, and rapidly re-distribute live sports content without authorization. This phenomenon encompasses a wide array of illicit activities, ranging from peer-to-peer networks and direct retransmissions on social media platforms to sophisticated illicit streaming websites and dedicated applications that offer illegal access to premium sports content, often for a fraction of the legitimate subscription cost or even for free. 

Economic and Industry Consequences 

Unauthorized streaming and piracy have serious and wide-ranging effects on many stakeholders in the sports ecosystem. Most significantly, subscriptions, pay-per-view sales, advertising revenue, and other legal distribution channels cause rights holders and broadcasters to lose a substantial amount of money, which directly affects their business models and profitability. This pervasive availability of illegal streams also directly contributes to the reduced value of broadcasting rights, as content being easily accessible for free or at a very low cost through illicit means makes legitimate broadcasters less willing to pay exorbitant fees for exclusivity, potentially impacting the financial health of sports leagues and organizations that heavily rely on these revenues. Furthermore, reduced revenues from piracy can deter future investment in various aspects of the sports industry, including infrastructure, player development, technological innovation in broadcasting itself, and the overall quality of broadcast production, effectively draining resources that could otherwise be reinvested into enhancing the sports product and viewer experience. Finally, while seemingly providing “free” content, illegal streams often come with lower quality, unreliable connections, excessive pop-up ads, and the risk of malware, ultimately leading to damage to brand and fan experience. Unauthorized use of intellectual property can also weaken the reputation of legitimate broadcasters and sports properties. 

Combating Piracy: A Multi-faceted Approach 

Combating piracy requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach involving coordinated efforts across legal enforcement, technological countermeasures, and international cooperation. 

Legal strategies employed by broadcasters and rights holders include issuing “takedown notices” under copyright laws (such as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in the US or similar provisions elsewhere) to force platforms to remove infringing content. They also pursue direct litigation against infringers, including individuals and commercial pirate operators, seeking damages and injunctions. Furthermore, rights holders increasingly seek dynamic injunctions to block access to illegal streaming websites and applications at the internet service provider (ISP) level, requiring constant updates as pirates shift their operations. 

On the technological front, broadcasters invest heavily in advanced digital rights management (DRM) systems, which encrypt content and control access to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution. Watermarking technologies are used to embed invisible or visible codes into the broadcast, allowing rights holders to trace the source of pirated streams. Real-time monitoring systems, often powered by AI and machine learning, are deployed to identify and disable unauthorized transmissions almost instantaneously as they appear online. 

Given the internet’s global reach, international cooperation is vital. Organizations like the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) play a vital role in fostering discussions and working towards stronger global frameworks for IP protection. This includes promoting international treaties, facilitating cross-border enforcement efforts, and sharing best practices among member states to combat piracy effectively. Law enforcement agencies in different countries also collaborate to dismantle international piracy networks[8].

Case Studies and Jurisprudence 

Judicial pronouncements globally have significantly shaped and continue to define the legal landscape of sports broadcasting, providing critical interpretations of existing laws and adapting them to new technological realities. 

In the United States, cases like American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Aereo, Inc., 573 U.S. 431 (2014), highlighted the profound challenges of applying traditional copyright law to innovative, yet potentially infringing, new streaming technologies. Aereo offered a service that allowed subscribers to watch broadcast television programs over the internet using miniature antennas and DVRs located at Aereo’s data centers. The US Supreme Court ultimately ruled against Aereo, finding that its service constituted a “public performance” and “retransmission” of copyrighted broadcasts without authorization, thus infringing on broadcasters’ exclusive rights under the Copyright Act. This landmark decision affirmed the applicability of existing copyright principles to emerging digital retransmission models, offering a crucial victory for traditional broadcasters[9].

In India, landmark rulings have unequivocally clarified the public nature of airwaves and established the boundaries of private monopolies in broadcasting. The case of Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting v. Cricket Association of Bengal, (1995) 2 SCC 161, is a foundational judgment where the Indian Supreme Court affirmed that the airwaves are public property, and their use must be regulated to serve public interest. While it pre-dates the 2007 Act, its tenets served as the foundation for laws encouraging greater public access to important events[10].

The case of Zee Telefilms & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. (2005), while primarily addressing contractual disputes concerning broadcasting rights, significantly touched upon the broader public interest in sports broadcasting and the powers of government to regulate it. Although the specific outcome of this case was related to the contractual validity between BCCI and Zee, it underscored the importance of transparency and fairness in the allocation of national broadcasting assets[11].

Furthermore, the Madras High Court’s directives in disputes involving Ten Sports and Prasar Bharati, particularly concerning the sharing of signals for matches of national significance, underscored the compelling importance of signal sharing for events of national importance. These judicial interventions served as critical precedents and, importantly, directly influenced and ultimately led to the codification of the principles embedded in the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007[12] [12]. These cases collectively illustrate the evolving interpretation and application of intellectual property and public interest principles in the dynamic and commercially significant realm of sports broadcasting, continually adapting to new technologies and commercial arrangements while upholding the broader public good. 

Conclusion 

The legal aspects of broadcasting sports events form a profoundly complex and continually evolving domain. Driven by significant financial stakes, the immense global popularity of sports, and the relentless pace of rapid technological advancements, this area of law grapples with multifaceted challenges. These include the intricate task of safeguarding a diverse array of intellectual property rights, effectively regulating market competition to ensure fairness and prevent monopolies, ensuring equitable public access to events that resonate with national sentiment, and combating the pervasive and economically damaging threat of piracy and unauthorized streaming. 

The delicate balance between protecting the legitimate commercial interests of rights holders and broadcasters—who invest billions of dollars in acquiring and producing content—and fostering a competitive market environment, while simultaneously serving the public interest by ensuring broad access to culturally significant sporting spectacles, remains a central and enduring challenge. As new technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and interactive streaming emerge, and as consumption patterns shift further towards personalized and on-demand viewing, legal frameworks will undoubtedly need to adapt further. This ongoing evolution is crucial to effectively govern the transmission of the world’s most beloved sporting spectacles, ensuring both their commercial viability as lucrative global products and their continued accessibility to passionate fans across the globe. 

References 

1. Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations, art. 13, Oct. 26, 1961, 496 U.N.T.S. 43. 
2. The Copyright Act, 1957, No. 14 of 1957, § 37 (India). 
3. IPR in Sports Broadcasting: Legal Framework and Implications, CORPBIS.IO, https://corpbiz.io/learning/legal-framework-of-ipr-in-sports-broadcasting/ (last visited July 24, 2025). 
4. Broadcasting & Media Rights in Sports, LAW BHOOMI, https://lawbhoomi.com/broadcasting-media-rights-in-sports/ (last visited July 24, 2025). 
5. Legal Dimensions of Sports Broadcasting Rights, LEGAL VIDHIYA, https://legalvidhiya.com/legal-dimensions-of-sports-broadcasting-rights/ (last visited July 24, 2025). 
6. The Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007, No. 11 of 2007 (India). 
7. Secretary, Ministry of Info. & Broad. v. Cricket Ass’n of Bengal, (1995) 2 SCC 161 (India). 
8. World Intellectual Property Organization, Broadcasting & Media Rights in Sport, https://www.wipo.int/copyright/en/sports.html (last visited July 24, 2025). 
9. American Broadcasting Cos. v. Aereo, Inc., 573 U.S. 431 (2014). 
10. Zee Telefilms & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors., (2005) 4 SCC 649 (India). 
11. Ten Cases That Shaped Sports Law in India, iPleaders, https://blog.ipleaders.in/ten-cases-shaped-sports-law-india/ (last visited July 24, 2025). 

[1] Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations, art. 13, Oct. 26, 1961, 496 U.N.T.S. 43. 

[2] The Copyright Act, 1957, No. 14 of 1957, § 37 (India). 

[3] IPR in Sports Broadcasting: Legal Framework and Implications, CORPBIS.IO, https://corpbiz.io/learning/legal-framework-of-ipr-in-sports-broadcasting/ (last visited July 24, 2025). 

[4] Broadcasting & Media Rights in Sports, LAW BHOOMI, https://lawbhoomi.com/broadcasting-media-rights-in-sports/ (last visited July 24, 2025). 

[5] Legal Dimensions of Sports Broadcasting Rights, LEGAL VIDHIYA, https://legalvidhiya.com/legal-dimensions-of-sports-broadcasting-rights/ (last visited July 24, 2025). 

[6] The Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007, No. 11 of 2007 (India). 

[7] Secretary, Ministry of Info. & Broad. v. Cricket Ass’n of Bengal, (1995) 2 SCC 161 (India). 

[8] World Intellectual Property Organization, Broadcasting & Media Rights in Sport, https://www.wipo.int/copyright/en/sports.html (last visited July 24, 2025). 

[9] American Broadcasting Cos. v. Aereo, Inc., 573 U.S. 431 (2014). 

[10] Secretary, Ministry of Info. & Broad. v. Cricket Ass’n of Bengal, (1995) 2 SCC 161 (India). 

[11] Zee Telefilms & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors., (2005) 4 SCC 649 (India). 

[12] Ten Cases That Shaped Sports Law in India, iPleaders, https://blog.ipleaders.in/ten-cases-shaped-sports-law-india/ (last visited July 24, 2025). 

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