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Apart from introducing a third umpire to adjudicate on disputed
and doubtful on-field umpiring decisions, a la cricket, PHL now
will also have three finals to make the proceedings more attractive
for audiences.
To ensure that more people are able to view the fixtures, Tier
I matches will be played in the evening starting the Thursday of
each week and running across on Friday, Saturday and Sunday till
the end of the league.
The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), India's apex body for hockey
management, today said at a press conference that Chandigarh will
host the second edition of the PHL starting from 5 January, 2006.
ESPN STAR Sports, which has been entrusted with the key responsibility
of marketing, producing and broadcasting the hockey league for a
period of ten years, will showcase PHL live on its network.
Asked whether ESS’ investments in domestic hockey is likely to
get affected by new media norms announced by the government, ESPN
India MD RC Venkateish said, “At the moment it doesn’t look like
that happening. But in future one
doesn’t know whether Doordarshan would suddenly get interested in
hockey once the event becomes a money-spinner.”
Earlier this week, the government announced a slew of media-regulated
regulations, including a seemingly anti-competitive norm that all
listed sports events would have to be shared by private rights holders
with pubcaster Doordarshan on a mandatory basis.
Meanwhile, dwelling on the changes introduced in PHL, hockey federation
president KPS Gill said, “The inaugural PHL set new benchmarks as
the world took notice of a completely new, revolutionary league.
This time we will raise the bar even further with new innovations."
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