The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has permitted Discovery Communications India to launch Eurosport and Eurosport HD in India with the approval of Discovery’s name change application. The permission is likely to have been granted week with the Ministry database updated yesterday and today.
According to the permitted satellite TV channels database of the Ministry, Discovery Communication India’s DSport HD license has been renamed to Eurosport HD. The Ministry has also renamed the DSport license to Eurosport according to the database.
| Channel | Company | Category | Language |
| EUROSPORT HD (earlier DSPORT HD) | DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS INDIA | NON-NEWS | ENGLISH/ HINDI OTHER LOCAL LANGUAGES IN INDIA |
| EUROSPORT (Earlier DSPORT) | DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS INDIA | NON-NEWS | ENGLISH/ HINDI OTHER LOCAL LANGUAGES IN INDIA |
The broadcaster had on 9th October 2019 applied for the renaming of DSport and DSport HD license to Eurosport and Eurosport HD. Given the DSport license has been the bone of contention between Discovery and Lex Sportel, the name change approval application had been pending since October with Lex Sportel moving Delhi High Court in December.
Discovery recently relaunched DSport HD in India from 17th February. The channel is priced at Rs 6 per month and is available in three High Definition bouquets offered by Discovery. HD Bouquet 1 – Basic Infotainment HD (Tamil) Pack, HD Bouquet 2 – Basic Infotainment HD Pack, and HD Bouquet 3 – Infotainment + Sports HD Pack.
DSport initially launched as an HD only channel in India with distributor platform operators downscaling the HD feed for SD customers. However, when TRAI implemented NTO in 2019, Discovery discontinued its HD version.
The broadcaster had initially planned to rebrand DSport in India to Eurosport from 14th February. However, Lex Sportel challenged the move in Delhi High Court. Both parties were heard at length by the court which issued an instruction to the Ministry and disposed of the case. The Delhi High Court on February 24 directed the Ministry to take a call within 8 weeks on Discovery’s application.
Note: The article has been updated to include the renaming of DSport license as well
