The Madras High Court today said it will deliver orders on telecasting arrangement for the upcoming India-Pakistan cricket matches on Thursday, as broadcasters Zee Telefilms and ESPN-Star Sports made almost similar offers to provide production services for the series.
Justice K P Sivasubramanian reserved orders on a writ petition filed by Zee challenging BCCI's decision cancelling the tender process last September.
The Judge will deliver orders on the petition later.
Close on the heels of Zee informing the High Court on Tuesday that it had made an offer to the BCCI pertaining to live telecast of the matches, ESS has offered the BCCI, subject to judcial orders, production services for the India- Pakistan series in accordance with international standards and "at a minimum as required by the BCCI's invitation to tender of August 7 (2004)."
Zee and ESS, in their offers in the court today, said they would deposit the entire advertising revenues generated from the series with the BCCI and also suggested that all figures would be subjected to audit by mutually agreed independent auditors.
The two broadcasters said the deposit would be made after deducting applicable agency commissions, mutually agreed production costs and any fees payable to Prasar Bharati in relation to its telecasts.
Zee also said it would deposit the entire amount which it may collect from international syndication sales without deducting their sales commission.
Both the broadcasters said they were making their offers in the interest of the game and to ensure that the series was not postponed or cancelled.
ESS also said if its offer was acceptable to BCCI both should jointly approach the High Court and recommend that the court authorise the implementation of this solution.
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