After signing an agreement with the Board of Control for Cricket in India for 31 days' cricket telecast rights, Prasar Bharti said on Monday it is ready to work towards getting the four-year telecast rights as well.
"If opportunity presents itself, then certainly," Prasar Bharti CEO K S Sarma said, when asked whether the public broadcaster is ready to submit a fresh bid for the four-year telecast rights if the Supreme Court calls for a new tender process.
The BCCI last month cancelled the outcome of its earlier tender after awarding Zee Telefilms the telecast rights for four years for $308 million, and ESPN-Star Sports challenged it in court. The matter being heard by a Constitution bench of the Supreme Court.
Sarma said Prasar Bharti's future course of action is subject to the apex court's decision.
On the current agreement with the BCCI for six Tests and a One-Day International, Sarma said Rs 100 crore would be paid by the public broadcaster to the BCCI.
"We will be doing all the marketing in India and will be selling advertising for the 31 days together," he said.
Asked whether Prasar Bharti would also make the feed available on Dish TV, the DTH arm of Zee, he said, "We are studying the matter, including ascertaining whether the copyright we have with the BCCI affects that arrangement."
