Telecast rights: OTV leads bidders for beaming car fest

Puri: At least seven TV channels participated in the bidding floated by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to sell the live telecast rights of the Rath Yatra- 2019, here Monday.
While multiple news channels were earlier broadcasting the Ratha Yatra, the fresh move by the SJTA will offer live telecast of the festival to a single channel. A host of rituals associated with the Lord has been put on the block. They include Snana Yatra, Ratha Yatra, Bahuda Yatra, Suna Besha, Adharapana, Neeladri Bije, among others. TV channels having minimum experience of five years could take part in this auction.
The deadline for submission of applications with the bid amount was before 4:30 pm June 10. Participating officials of the channels reached Shree Mandir administration office Monday at around 4 pm. The tender paper was opened in the presence of Shree Mandir Niti administrator Biswajit Biswal, development administrator Biswanath Sahu, security administrator and officials of the TV channels.
Among the bidders, OTV led with the highest offer of Rs 54 lakh, MBC TV Rs 36 lakh, NEWS18 Rs 15 lakh, Kalinga TV Rs 10 lakh, Prarthana Channel Rs 10 lakh, Sadhna Channel Rs 4,44,444 and Kanak TV Rs 1.25 lakh.
“The tender paper was opened in the presence of officials (participants) of seven TV channels. SJTA will take a decision Tuesday on which channel will receive the telecast rights for Ratha Yatra- 2019,” said Niti administrator Biswajit Biswal.