Twitter
Advertisement

Prasar Bharati says it’s solo in radio commentary

Dismissing BCCI’s announcement Prasar Bharatihas informed the Board president that government norms don’t permit private FM radio players to get into news and current affairs.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

NEW DELHI: Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has reiterated its monopoly in radio as far as cricket commentary goes. The pubcaster has told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that only All India Radio (AIR) can have the radio rights for matches played in India.

Dismissing BCCI’s announcement, made last week, that private FM radio channels would be invited to bid for broadcasting rights to international cricket matches played in the country, Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma has informed the Board president Sharad Pawar in a letter that government norms don’t permit private FM radio players to get into news and current affairs. Cricket commentary has so far been categorised under news and current affairs.

“At this juncture, it may be pertinent to inform you that no private FM channel in the country, as per their licence condition issued by the government, is permitted to do any commentary on their radio stations,” Sarma wrote to Pawar.

He added: “This is for your information so that you put the radio rights for overseas only as part of your tender, and continue to give All India Radio the right to broadcast commentary free of charge as already announced recently.”

Sarma wrote the letter in response to BCCI marketing committee’s decision on Friday that TV, direct-to-home (DTH), broadband, mobile telephony and radio rights would be sold separately, and not bundled together.

The committee also decided that AIR would get radio rights free, but that it would also seek bids from FM radio stations across cities.

Sarma has also reminded the Board of the new downlinking guidelines, which make it mandatory for private TV channels to share rights with the public broadcaster’s terrestrial platform-national channel of Doordarshan.  “This will go a long way in enabling us to perform our public broadcaster’s role in a more effective manner,” he said.

BCCI, in a meeting last Thursday, decided in-principle to cancel the existing telecast tender and seek a fresh bid, with brand new norms and clauses, for international cricket matches to be played in India. ‘

All this was to be subject to court order. Delhi High Court, which is hearing the crciket telecast issue, on Monday asked BCCI to file an undertaking on its decision to seek fresh bids by Friday.

The court had earlier permitted the Board to ask for fresh bids for three Test matches against Sri Lanka, and Zee Sports emerged a winner with the highest bid.

 

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement