Free-to-Air channels may go up to 100

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Mar 3: The number of Free-to-Air channels in the Doordarshan's Direct to Home(DTH) bouquet may go up to 100 from the existing 33.

Permission has already been given to Doordarshan to increase the number of DTH channels to 50, and Prasar Bharati was examining the technical and commercial feasibility to further expand the capacity of DTH platform to cover 100 channels, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told the Lok Sabha today.

He said Doordarshan had so far installed 8,465 DTH receiving units free of cost for demonstration purpose in uncovered villages in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, North-East Region, Rajasthan and Uttaranchal.

Replying to another question, he said Doordarshan earned revenue of Rs 585.74 crore during 2005-06 up to January 31 this year as compared to Rs 665.27 crore in 2004-05 and Rs. 530.23 crore in 2003-04.

However, he said Prasar Bharati cannot be compared with other private channel, as it is a public service broadcaster and not motivated solely by commercial considerations.

Any litigation with well-known producers, who owe outstanding dues towards Doordarshan, has not affected the quality of programmes telecast by them and Doordarshan considers their proposals again after their repayment plan of outstanding dues is approved, he said.

UNI

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