Star India network, which owns sports telecast channels like Star Sports, ESPN and Star Cricket, has been announcing a surprise for all its viewers (you might has noted the four days to go animation during today’s India Vs Australia ODI match). Sources close to the 21st Century Fox-owned Company has confirmed that it will have a dedicated Hindi sports channel airing India specific content from November 6. This will also include re-branding the cricket channel Star Cricket, which has been airing other sports like football for some time now. The source, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that the dedicated Hindi sports channel will be called Star Sports 3 and it will concentrate more on India specific events like the Ranji Trophy, Hockey India League (HIL), Indian Badminton League (IBL), Super Fight League (SFL) and the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL). The channel will also make provision for the home games for the Indian cricket team. While Star Sports 3 will have Hindi feed all round the clock, the existing Star Sports 2 will be a dual feed channel having mix of India and international content. In an expected move after ESPNSTAR was taken over by FOXSPORTS, Star India will be bidding adieu to ESPN brand in the country and will be renamed as Star Sports 4. Similarly, ESPN HD will be called Star Sports HD 2, while the existing Star Sports channel, which is busy bring the India Vs Australia ODI series to your TV sets in English will be known as Star Sports 1 and Star Cricket HD will be called Star Sports HD 1. The move is expected to put Star Sports, the brand, at the centre stage of Sports production in India. The move comes after Star India took charge of the India sports business following its split between 21st Century Fox (earlier News Corp) and Walt Disney’s ESPN.Source: Sportskeeda.com
