DD India US Launch scheduled for May 24

Hyderabad, May 11 (UNI) Prasara Bharati CEO K S Sarma today said that DD India US launch was scheduled for May 24, 2006.

Talking to newspersons here, he said that all the arrangements for the launch have already been completed.

Mr Sarma said the Information and Broadcasting Minister has been requested to launch and if he could spare time, the launch would be as scheduled.

He said the bill for setting up a Broadcast Regulatory Authority was in circulation. Two earlier attempts at introducing the Bill earlier failed, as the bills lapsed due to the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, he added.

He said Television Audience Measurement (TAM) had recently conducted a survey stating that of the ten million Set Top Boxes sold in India, Doordarshan had a share of eight million and said if a family of five were watching the TV in a house, the viewership would be 40 million.

Doordarshan which offered 14 of its 33 channel DTH platform to private channels free of cost, was now demanding Rs ome crore from those seeking the platform due to the rating for airing the channels.

He said Doordarshan was now increasing the TV channels from 33 to 50 and radio channels from 12 to 20. He had already received applications from 65 channels, including some foreign channels to join the bouquet of Doordarshan, he added.

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