Sensing competition for the telecast rights of the cricket matches being played in India, Subhash Chandra's Zee group has upped its offer by Rs 94.5 crore (Rs 945 million) to about Rs 1300 crore (Rs 13 billion) to the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Zee had made an original bid of $260 million for securing the telecast rights for four years but in the face of competition from ESPN-Star, it has offered to make the extra provision of Rs 94.5 crore. The specialised sports channel ESPN-Star is understood to have made a bid of $230 million.

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Although Zee's bid is understood to be the highest, BCCI has kept the issue open for entertaining better offers and the matter would be discussed on Saturday at a meeting in Chennai.

When contacted, Ashish Kaul, vice president (corporate brand development), ESSEL Group, told PTI, "We have made the extra provision for the development of domestic cricket."

Zee Telefilms owns and operates the largest number of television channels in India, totalling 19 across a spectrum of six languages including Zee and Alpha brands, he said adding that Zee is planning to launch a sports channel in 2005.

Asked about the bid amount, Kaul said, "Zee has prepared a detailed plan for partnering BCCI and supporting in building BCCI brand as the Emotional Quotient of Indian cricket.

"It is BCCI's vision that Zee proposes to build and nurture in due course," he added.