KARACHI, Sept 19: Though it may sound strange but it is a fact that instead of getting any financial benefit from the electronic media, the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) paid Rs0.7 million to a private television channel for coverage of the Asian Snooker Championship held in the city in the recent past.

This revelation was made by Alamgir Sheikh, vice-president of the PBSA, in the last general council meeting of the POA held in Lahore.

“Half of the amount was paid by the title sponsor, an insurance firm, while the remaining by the PBSA after the deal was struck pertaining to the coverage,” he revealed.

The PBSA official disclosed that the money was paid to the channel, which was also the media partner, with the intention that title sponsor may get sufficient advertisements and help the body in future also.

He pointed out that a tobacco company used to sponsor the baize game which unfortunately did not allow any other sponsors to come in the picture during their 15 years affiliation with the PBSA.

It is a common practice the world over that sports bodies fetch big chunks of money by selling television rights of international sporting events.

The PBSA, according to an official, earned Rs2 million from the title sponsor.