NEW DELHI: Even as industry bodies and private broadcasters cry foul, the government today stated in Parliament that there is a proposal to make it mandatory to share telecast of sporting events of national importance with Prasar Bharati.
 

Information and broadcasting minister told Lok Sabha (Lower House) today that the government has engaged major sports channel and rights management companies in a dialogue to evolve, or at least optimize, a consensus on the contentious issue.
 
 

The matter, which forms part of the proposed revised uplink and downlink norms, is now under consideration of a group of ministers being headed by defence minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Meanwhile, Reddy also stated in Lok Sabha that over four million boxes of pubcaster Doordarshan’s DTH service has been sold in the country. DD Direct Plus service was launched on 16 December, 2004.

The minister said in a written reply that the sale is likely to increase further during the year. No carriage fee is being charged from the private channels included in the DTH service at present.