TV dispute is resolved after President's intervention

The dispute about TV rights for the current one-day series between Pakistan and New Zealand has been resolved. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Pakistan's Minister for Information and Broadcasting, said that both the companies in the dispute - Pakistan TV (PTV) and the Dubai-based GEO channel - could broadcast the series for their respective viewers.

He said at a press conference: "The dispute, on the intervention of President General Pervez Musharraf, who also is patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has been resolved amicably for the live telecast of the cricket series."

PTV will screen the matches for its terrestrial viewers, while GEO will broadcast the series for cable and satellite viewers. Sheikh Rashid said that PTV will not make any payment for the signal from GEO, and GEO will bear all the costs of airing the series, in accordance with the terms of its earlier commitment. He added that open bidding for future series will be held by the Pakistan Cricket Board, which would award the broadcast rights for the international audience, excluding the terrestrial viewers.