Prasar Bharti open to partner anybody

Public broadcaster Prasar Bharti said on Wednesday it is "open" to partnering anybody for the telecast of the India-Pakistan series.

Public broadcaster Prasar Bharti said on Wednesday it is "open" to partnering anybody for the telecast of the forthcoming India-Pakistan cricket series.

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"So long as they agree to give us terrestial signals and agree to our terms and conditions, we have no problems in partnering anyone," Prasar Bharti CEO KS Sarma said.

It may be mentioned here that even as the matter of awarding telecast rights for the series lies in the Madras High Court, both Zee and ESPN-Star Sports have submitted proposals to the Indian cricket board seeking rights for production and telecast of the series.

Also both have agreed to share the terrestial rights with Prasar Bharti.

ESPN-Star Sport already have an agreement with Prasar Bharti wherein it has promised a Rs 1 crore minimum guarantee to the public broadcaster for each One-Day International match.

Recently, the Pasar Bharti further asked the sports boadcasters for giving it Rs 1.5 crore minimum guarantee for a Test match.

Any revenue over and above this would be shared on an 80:20 basis, the majority going to ESPN-Star.

Sarma also said that he was open to partnering Sony and Ten Sports as well, "provided they manage to get the rights".

The Madras High Court will pass orders on Thursday for interim arrangements for telecasting the upcoming India-Pakistan cricket series.