The IOC has broken new ground in recent years, directly negotiating broadcast rights for some markets instead of selling the rights for all territories on a continent to one umbrella broadcasting institution.

Star India, which was founded by Murdoch in 1991 and is owned by 21st Century Fox, acquired the rights to all media platforms, including free-to-air television, subscription television, internet and mobile, in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

"We welcome the opportunity to work with Star India for the upcoming editions of the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games," said IOC President Jacques Rogge.

"We are confident they will do a great job providing the best possible broadcast coverage of the Games, on a variety of platforms, to the largest possible audience in the seven different countries."

Broadcast rights revenues are the IOC's biggest source of income and will top $4 billion (£2.6 billion/€3.1 billion) for the period 2013-2016.

"Traditionally the IOC has negotiated broadcast rights on a pan-Asian basis," said the IOC's chief negotiator Richard Carrion, who heads the Finance Commission.

"However, the media landscape is changing and we have adapted our approach recently by negotiating directly in certain markets.

"We are very pleased to have reached this agreement directly with Star India."

The IOC launched a different sale process for the other 24 Asian territories in June.

""The Olympic Games remain the pinnacle of sporting achievement where the world's best in various disciplines face off for the title of Olympic champion," said Nitin Kukreja, head of sport business for Star India.

"Indian athletes have also performed admirably over the last few editions, which is evident in the medal-winning performances that we have come to admire.

"We value our partnership with the IOC and feel that this spectacular extravaganza can be taken to even greater heights in India on both television as well as on digital platforms."

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