NEW DELHI: A raging controversy over cricket telecast rights notwithstanding, Zee Telefilms today flagged off test signals of its proposed sports channel in anticipation of getting a formal nod for uplinking from the government soon.

According to a senior Zee Telefilms executive, the test signals started today from the studios located on the outskirts of Delhi in Noida. The Subhash Chandra-promoted company has also finalised a logo for the proposed sports channel, which was made available exclusively to Indiantelevision.com.

Meanwhile, sources in the information and broadcasting ministry said that a formal communication to Zee on the uplink application for Zee Sports is likely to be issued within a few days.

Zee Telefilms would be needing up to Rs 2,000 million as the working capital to make operational the sports channel. This was revealed to Indiantelevision.com some time back by Chandra.