Which cricket commentary is better – Hindi or English?

BCCI directly controls English feed

If you are a fan of text book commentary, you might argue, English commentary is better than Hindi and it has better talent.  But hold on! It is Hindi commentary which has huge numbers and editorially completely independent from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Add to it, huge subscription revenues it brings to Star Sports Network. So if you love having options then which cricket commentary is better - Hindi or English? 

The BCCI produces the world feed and hires English commentators. And there are strict do’s and don’ts for English commentators. 

Share feed with Doordarshan : Delhi High Court to Sports Channels

Upholding Prasar Bharati’s view, the Delhi High Court on Thursday held that whosoever airs a live television broadcast of sporting events of national importance must share the same with national broadcaster Prasar Bharati, which runs Doordarshan & All India Radio, without any commercials.

A bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog made the observations while dismissing a TV channel’s plea seeking a direction to Prasar Bharati not to insist on the live signal of international cricket matches of India without any commercial.

India-Aus series to be Fight for No.1, Star Sports scores with cricket again

Fight for No. 1 : Team India will be seen
in action after almost 2 months 

Team India's all home cricket matches will be aired on Star Sports Network. The BCCI has awarded the rights for telecasting all international matches played in India to Star Sports Network for the period October 2013 to April 30, 2014.

The first in line is 7 ODIs and one T20 match India-Australia series starting 10 October till 2 November, marking the total telecast value at Rs 16 crore. India, the leader in ODI currently with 123 points, will fight Australia to retain the top position as the Aussies are 2^nd with 115 points. If Australia topples India with a comprehensive win then they will be the new no. 1 while if India wins the series they will retain their position. 

Your EPL TV guide for October : 21 matches live on Star Sports Network

Weather is getting cooler and football is getting hotter! For this busy month Star Sports Network has lined up 21 English Premier League matches live, starsports.com might stream more than 21 matches.­­­­

Remember India will be playing against Australia in ODI cricket series on Star Cricket and Star Sports, despite tight prime time schedule on Star Sports Network, EPL has managed to get considerable airtime.

Star Sports Network will air 3 matches each of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace. Most of the action will be on ESPN and Star Sports 2.

As Hindi commentary has almost doubled the viewership of EPL in India, more and more matches will be aired with Hindi commentary, for this month 15 out of 21 live matches will have dual feed. Despite this schedule being confirmed, last minute changes in timings and channels are possible. Folks pick your match and enjoy the beautiful game :)

ESPN will telecast Sultan Johor Cup Hockey from September 22

Gone are the days when hockey fans would rarely get to watch live action. Indian young guns will be seen live taking on England, Korea, Malaysia, Argentina and Pakistan in 3rd Sultan of Johor Cup. 


ESPN will telecast 3rd Sultan of Johor Cup Hockey tournament live which begins at Johor Bahru in Malaysia from September 22-29 with Hindi commentary. Olympian Jagbir Singh & Sunil Taneja will be calling the games for viewers back home. 

Sports channels are trying to reduce their dependence on expensive and limited cricket properties and betting big on other sports, hockey is one such sport. 

Star Sports 2 to air NKP Salve Challenger Trophy

2013 edition of the one day cricket tournament NKP Salve Challenger Trophy will be aired live on Star Sports 2 & ESPN HD starting September 26. The tournament is played just before the start of Ranji Trophy season, with the purpose of showcasing the talent that the country has, as well as providing opportunities for younger players to make an impression.

The venues and teams for the four day tournament are yet to be announced. Earlier all matches were to be played day-night. But thanks to timings clash with ongoing Champions League T20, all matches will now be played in day.

Hindi commentary of BPL enhances ESPN Star Sports ratings

ESPN Star Sports seems to have hit the right notes with its viewers with the telecast of Barclays Premier League (BPL) this year. And it’s no plain statement. The broadcaster which is airing the football league in both English and Hindi this season has reported a 254 per cent jump in its ratings on the inaugural day. Not only this, the broadcaster also recorded a 105 per cent increase in its time spent per viewer on the day.

The league which went on air from 17 August on Star Sports and Star Cricket is also made available in Hindi for the first time. “We believe there is a huge potential for growth in football viewership and that Indian fans would love to consume non-cricket sports as well if the product is packaged well, communicated and presented in an interesting manner,” said ESPN Software India COO Vijay Rajput.

Everything you want to know about EPL broadcast on Star Sports Network

Q. Why I am getting jumbled/mixed commentary?

Ans. Earlier Star Sports and ESPN commentary feeds were switched by interchanging audio inputs (white nob in red input and red nob in white input). They have not changed that audio system yet. However, you can disable one audio input to get only one commentary feed at a time. For more read this : This is how to change commentary feed of Star Sports channels 

Q. How do I switch between Hindi and English commentary?

Ans. To switch between Hindi and English commentary, locate the language button on your set-top box remote and make the required change. If it is not working then interchange your set-top box audio inputs. If nothing is working then give it a read : This is how to change commentary feed of Star Sports channels

Why Star Cricket is showing football?

News channels airing comedy shows or bollywood promotions are not uncommon scenes in India. But a cricket channel telecasting football seems a bit strange. 

Ongoing season of English Premier League is being aired on Star Cricket and Star Cricket HD at the moment along with Star Sports with Hindi and English commentary. Strange though it may seem, it is well thought out coverage plan of Star Sports Network.

Court ruling at midnight and sports coverage changed for ever !

Hero Cup is remembered for Sachin's last over
but it changed Indian Sportscasting for forever

Hero Cup 1993 is remembered for Sachin Tendulkar’s last over bowling. South Africa needed 6 runs off last 6 bowls chasing 196 in the nail-biting final at Eden Gardens.  

Sachin bowled perhaps the best over of his career on 24 November 1993.  Even though it was his first over in this match. His leg spin did the trick and gave away just 3 runs. India won the match and the 5 nation Hero Cup.  

But this tournament went down in the history of Indian sports broadcasting as a turning point.