Broadcasting Rights For CWG

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

UNSTARRED 

QUESTION NO . 1308  

ANSWERED ON 22.11.2010

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state :-

(a) Whether the Prasar Bharati has given broadcasting rights of Rs.246 Crore for coverage of the Commonwealth Games to a company having a fake registration number and without service tax registration;

(b) If so ,the details thereof;

(c) Whether the Prasar Bharati has also released payments to the said company despite doubts raised about its legal status;

(d) Whether it is also a fact that overlay providers also allegedly helped the Organising Committee inflate bills by at least 30 percent by charging two different Games Venues;

(e) Whether Government has initiated any enquiry into alleged irregularities;

(f) If so , findings thereof ; and

(g) The details of action taken against erring officials?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE, INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
(Dr. S. JAGATHRAKSHAN)

(a to c) All Broadcasting rights for telecast vest with the Organizing Committee. However, for the Production and Coverage activities for the Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010; Doordarshan a constituent of Prasar Bharati selected a consortium of Satellite Information Services Ltd, London and SIS Outside Broadcast Ltd.; after global tendering process, with the approval of Ministry of I & B. M/s SIS Live had earlier mentioned their Service Tax Registration Number on their third invoice as ABRFS4787LSD001. On October 4, 2010 M/s SIS Live has forwarded a copy of Service Tax Registration Certificate issued by CBEC on 28/09/2010 to them which mentions Service Tax Registration Number as ABRFS4787LSD002. So far an amount of Rs 147.60 Cr amounting to 60% of the contract value has been released to M/s SIS live . Based on information received from office of Commissioner Service tax, Delhi ; the entity has paid all the due service tax for period April 2010 to September 2010 ; till October 6, 2010 i.e. Rs.6.89 Crores and the next date of deposition of service tax will be January 6, 2011 i.e. all payments that entity receives post October 1, 2010.

(d) No such information is available with the I&B Ministry.

(e) to (g) Following a number of news paper reports regarding alleging irregularities related to operation of the contract with M/s SIS Live, the comments of Prasar Bharati have been sought in this regard. In addition an audit by CAG is currently under way in the matter. Further Government has constituted a high level committee under Shri V.K.Shunglu to look into the issues relating to the Organizing and conduct of the Commonwealth Games which interalia will include broadcasting of games. 


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