The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Thursday awarded Prasar Bharti the telecast rights for upcoming one-day international series against Sri Lanka and South Africa.

The state broadcaster clinched the deal after offering the BCCI Rs. 7.5 crore per match.

Television house TWI was given the production rights for the two series.

India will play seven one-day internationals against Sri Lanka, followed by five against South Africa.

The Sri Lanka series starts in Nagpur on October 25.

BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra, also the chairman of the Marketing Committee, said that while the Board had received an offer from TWI for the production of the two series, the attention of the Marketing Committee was also drawn to an offer for production by Nimbus Sport.

The committee considered both offers and noted that while the production cost quoted by TWI was US $1.54 million (Rs 6.93 crore) for 12 matches, the quote of Nimbus Sport was US $1.95 million (Rs. 8.77 crore).

Since there was a difference of Rs. 1.7 crore-plus, the committee decided that the responsibility of production for the two home series be given to TWI, Mahendra said.

"The marketing committee felt that in order to reach out to the largest possible Indian audience, the national broadcaster would be the best possible option for the Indian terrestrial and cable rights, more so since under similar circumstance the same arrangement was made in 2004," he added.

Prasar Bharti had given an offer of Rs. seven crore per match for terrestrial and cable rights but after further negotiations with the marketing committee today, it agreed to increase it to 7.5 crore per match.

As far as overseas rights are concerned the president and other office-bearers of the marketing committee were authorized to negotiate with the prospective parties.