New experiment in Parliamentary broadcast goes on air

New Delhi, July 24 (UNI) Heralding a new experiment in Parliamentary broadcast, a 24-hour Lok Sabha Television Channel, the brainchild of Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, today went on air with live telecast of Parliament proceedings and other current affairs and interactive programmes.

''The basic purpose of launching this 24-hour channel is not just to telecast Lok Sabha proceedings but to apprise the nation of the issues in question in the supreme legislature of the country,'' executive director of the Channel Sudhir Tandon told UNI.

So far only those who were in the House or those who had time to watch TV during the day, could see Parliament proceedings, as telecast by Doordarshan, but the Speaker wanted that a large number of people who had no time for TV during the day should also see it and other programmes related to it. Hence the need for this TV Channel, Mr Tandon said.

''If it was physically not possible for the nation to come to Parliament, Parliament can be brought to the nation. This is the prime motive behind the Speaker's conception of this channel,'' he said.

The test transmissions for this channel were held from May 11 to May 23 last.

Mr Tandon said the channel, which is the only anchored Parliament channel, opens its telecast at 1000 hrs with programmes relating to the business of the House and issues likely to crop up during the day. From 1330 hrs to 1400 hrs there is a wrap up of the pre-lunch session. Then there is a wrapup at the end of the day.

From 1930 to 2030, the Channel telecasts highlights of the day's proceedings so that those who had not been able to watch during the day could catch up, he said.

''Then from 0830 onwards we have different programmes relating to curent affairs and debates on important issue or issues of the day.

Our endeavour is to create an awareness and interest among the people about the matters the Parliament is seized with,'' said Mr Tandon.

One unique programme is the 'Party Stand' telecast twice a day.

In this programme, different political parties are given time to speak out their views and spell out their programmes, he said.

''We are trying to shed off the image of a monotonous channel, doing much more than telecasting the proceedings,'' said an executive producer.

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