MUMBAI: Malaysia has come out with new guidelines that mandates broadcast rights holders of sports events of ?national significance? to share content with free-to-air channels in order to provide widest possible coverage and enable all citizens to access the content.

The broadcaster who acquired the broadcasting rights to the sports events of national significance shall offer such rights to FTA broadcasters who will have the first right of refusal over the sports events of national significance?s broadcasting rights, the Minister of Communications and Culture said in its notification.

Whenever there are no FTA broadcasters acquiring the broadcasting rights, the broadcasters shall offer such rights to pay-TV broadcasters. The offer of the broadcasting rights shall be based on reasonable commercial terms, the notification added.

Talking to reporters after attending a launch event, IC&C Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said, "Sports that have a mass appeal like the Olympics, badminton, football and other major sporting events would not be allowed to be monopolised by any one station but such broadcast content must be shared."

Among the sporting events that have been accorded the status of national significance includes Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and South East Asian Games.

The broadcasters will also have to share final matches of Badminton events like Thomas Cup, Uber Cup, and BWF Super Series; Football events like AFC Asian Cup, Fifa World Cup and English Premier League among others.

According to analysts in the country, the biggest beneficiary of the new content sharing rules will be Telekom Malaysia while satellite television operator Astro is likely to take a big hit.

Meanwhile, new digital cable TV operator Asian Broadcasting Network has welcomed the new rules contending that the it will lead to a stronger interest in sports among Malaysians.

"We look forward to more comprehensive details on how the collaboration framework could operate in the industry as well as regular regulatory review and industry discussion on how to move this forward," a Telekom Malaysia spokesman said.

MUMBAI: As the hype and hoopla surrounding its launch fizzled out, the Premier League Soccer that was expected to take Indian football by storm has got some reality check as the tournament has been postponed for the second time in a row.

The non-cooperation of the West Bengal government and the under-preparedness of the venues have emerged as the prime reasons for the postponement.

PLS was originally expected to kick-off on 24 March but was postponed to 20 April due to unavailability of stadias. But as the problem persists, it seems the PLS will have to wait till at least August after the Fifa transfer window ends to stage the tournament.

When contacted, Celebrity Management Group CEO Dharamdutt Pandey said: ?PLS will be held only after August when the Fifa transfer window ends. By that time all the six stadiums would also have been refurbished. We will sit and finalise a new date with the IFA (Indian Football Association).?

What about the likely impact of the postponement on international players who would have second thoughts about participating in the league?

Pandey affirmed that CMG has officially written to all the players. "They have been kept in the loop about the developments and as of now none of the players have pulled out. In case, any of the iconic players pull-out the organisers will have a replacement ready," he said.

He also claimed that most of the franchises have supported CMG despite the issues that cloud the league. He went on to say that the franchises are happy since they will have more time to prepare themselves for the inaugural edition of the league.

Without naming, he said that one of the franchises is not happy with the uncertainty. He refused to reveal the identity of the franchise. He also revealed that all the six venues will be upgraded with the dressing room, turf and the floodlights being the top-most priority.

Earlier, the PLS had faced its first major roadblock when All India Football Federation had asked Fifa to suspend the Transfer Matching System account of the franchises over the ambiguity in the registration of franchises.

The issue was later sorted out after the IFA assured the parent body that the PLS clubs were recognised by it following which the clubs were allowed to seek transfer of international players through TMS.

The PLS will involve six teams -- Kolkata Camelians, Barasat Euro Musketeers, Durgapur Vox Champions, Howrah Manchester, Bengal Tuskers and Team Haldia, whose name is yet to be finalised. The six franchises had collectively put more than Rs 1 billion in buying the teams and signing players.

The league boasted of star players like Hernan Crespo, Jay Jay Okocha, Robert Pires and Fabio Cannavaro besides a host of other international players and coaches. The international media rights for the league were sold to MP & Silva.