NEW DELHI: The broadcast and cable regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has said that it is yet to take a view on Indian pubcaster Prasar Bharati's plea that it should be given preferential treatment while granting terrestrial telecast right of important events, especially sports.
"We have received the letter today and would take some time before we firm a view on the issue," Trai chairman Pradip Baijal told indiantelevision.com.
Prasar Bharati, in a letter dated 13 February, had pleaded with Trai that it should intervene and help DD get terrestrial telecast rights of Indo-Pak cricket series. The telecast rights are with Dubai based Ten Sports, which had acquired them last year for five years at a time when a series between India and Pakistan had not looked possible.
Baijal also refused to comment whether Trai would intervene at all in the issue Or not.
Still industry sources indicated that Trai, even if it wanted to, may not be able to side with Prasar Bharati, which looks after Doordarshan and All India Radio, as bringing in a law at this juncture favouring DD may not have the desired effect.
On the other hand, Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma is still hopeful that DD would manage to get something more than the daily highlights package that has been promised by Ten Sports.