(22 December 2005 9 pm)

NEW DELHI: Pubcaster Prasar Bharati has raked in a profit of Rs 200-300 million from the two one-day series and one Test series.

Speaking to reporters today, Prasar Bharati CEO K S Sarma said the pubcaster earned a net revenue of around Rs 1.1-Rs 1.2 billion. Sri Lanka's India tour comprised seven one-dayers and three Test matches while, against South Africa, India played five one-dayers.

As per the contract, Prasar Bharati was required to pay Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) Rs 75 million per one-day match and was to share revenues from Test matches on a 25:75 percentage basis.

"According to this formula, the amount payable to BCCI is Rs 800- Rs 900 million," Sarma said.

Prasar Bharati had received telecast rights for India's one-day matches against Sri Lanka and South Africa as well as the Test series with Sri Lanka. BCCI's attempt to award long-term rights to private broadcasters was spoilt by the legal wrangling between ESPN-Star Sports and Zee Sports. Soon after the election of Sharad Pawar as the BCCI president, Zee Sports won the Lanka test telecast rights and shared the feed with Prasar Bharati.

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