DD gears up to face competitors in content and technology

Mumbai, May 26 (UNI) National public broadcaster Doordarshan has geared up with a series of innovative measures to face competition from private channels in terms of content and technological advancements.

Addressing mediapersons here, Doordarshan Director General Naveen Kumar said a pilot project of Digital Video Broadcasting -hand held (DVB-H) transmission has been taken up in Delhi to enable reception of TV signals on hand-held devices like mobile phones.

This transmission is expected to commence during the later half of this year.

At the same time, digitalisation of Doordarshan archive has been initiated. About 3,000 hours of archival material has already been digitized. ''VCDs and DVDs of some classics have been prepared for viewers,'' he informed.

Mr Kumar also announced that beginning next month till August, Doordarshan will air prime time serials by commissioned outside producers like --'Aur Ek Kahani' by Manju Singh, 'Karan -The Detective', 'Hari Mirchi Lal Mirchi', 'Main Banoongi Miss India'.

Similarly, 'Tu Tota Main Maina', a situational comedy by Sachin starring himself and wife Supriya, music talent show -- 'Music, Masti Aur Dhoom', Saira Bano's afternoon soap 'Stree', Prime Focus' musical game show 'Khelo Gao aur Jeeto' and comedy serial 'Sohni Mahiwal' by UTV are some of the programmes in the pipeline, he added.

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