IGNOU's Gyan Darshan channels on Prasar Bharti's DTH

New Delhi, Dec 21 (UNI) Prasar Bharti has decided to place two channels of IGNOU's Gyan Darshan -- GD-1 and GD-2 -- on Direct To Home (DTH) platform of DD Direct Plus, a move that is expected to result in the enhanced viewership of the educational programmes.

Announcing this here today, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Vice-Chancellor V N Rajasekharan said the placement of teleconferencing channel on the DD Direct Plus plat- form would result in a spurt in viewership, besides a drastic reduction in cost for the receive equipment for the channel.

At present, the cost of C-band receive system is about Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 whereas the cost for a similar system on the DTH is Rs 2,500-3,000. Moreover, the maintenance cost is also reduced drastically.

''Students can have 'receive facility' at home to participate in the live teleconferencing,'' he added.

IGNOU had established a bouquet of Gyan darshan channels in the 2000, with help from the Human Resource Development Ministry, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

In addition, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has also allowed IGNOU to establish 40 FM radio stations at different locations in Phase-I.

Prof Rajasekharan informed that 26 FM radio stations by the name of Gyan Vani were being used for the teleconferencing as well as telecasting of the programmes for the distance education.

UNI