The Hindu Business Line : TRAI to decide on Indo-Pak series telecast next week

THE Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is examining the issue of giving Prasar Bharati the terrestrial rights to the Indo-Pak series and will formulate its views in the next few days.

The TRAI Chairman, Mr Pradip Baijal, told Business Line, "We have received the letter from Prasar Bharati. We will examine the issue and take a view in the next few days." Prasar Bharati had sent a letter to TRAI earlier this week for helping it get terrestrial telecast rights for the forthcoming Indo-Pak cricket series.

Currently, the exclusive cricket rights are with the Dubai-based Taj Television, which owns Ten Sports. Despite several rounds of negotiations between Ten Sports and Prasar Bharati, the former has not agreed to offer the terrestrial rights to the latter.

Ten Sports was, however, willing to offer a one-hour highlights package to the national broadcaster.

Meanwhile, last week officials from Ten Sports had made a presentation to the TRAI on the company. Mr Baijal said that the issue of cricket rights was not discussed.