TRAI again says no jurisdiction over cricket telecast rights

New Delhi, Feb. 27: In yet another twist to the tale, broadcast regulator TRAI on Friday said it has no jurisdiction over the tussle between Prasar Bharti and Ten Sports for Indo-Pak cricket series telecast rights.

"I don’t think we have powers to do anything in this matter...there is no legal provision within the country to help us solve this issue," TRAI chairman Pradip Baijal said here.

However, Prasar Bharti CEO K.S. Sarma said he had met Baijal on Thursday and impressed upon him the necessity of Doordarshan obtaining the terrestrial telecast rights for the Indo-Pak series.

"I was told that TRAI will call Ten Sports for a meeting and try to mediate in the matter. What Prasar Bharti is offering is $four million for the five one day matches and three tests against Ten Sports’ bid of $eight million," Sarma said.

Asked whether the state broadcaster was willing to raise its offer price, he said, "pricing is not an issue here. If Ten Sports gives me telecast rights, its own viewer ship gets affected and that is what it does not want".

Sarma said TRAI will only negotiate between DD and Ten Sports but does not have any jurisdiction over granting Indo-Pak cricket series telecast rights to Doordarshan.

"I was told by Baijal that it can only negotiate between Prasar Bharti and Ten Sports...it may later frame guidelines on mandatory telecast rights for the public broadcaster in sporting events where India is a participant...this is my last ditch effort to get these rights so that the country can watch some cricket," Sarma added. (PTI)