Spl budget provision to Prasar Bharati for airing CW games

New Delhi, Feb 29 (UNI) Prasar Bharati has got a hefty amount from the government in the budget for 2008-09 to put up infrastructure for the 2010 Commonwealth Games for which it is the host broadcaster.

The Public broadcaster will get Rs 334.40 crore as against Rs 166.84 crore it got last year.

The loan has been given for setting up an 'International Broadcasting Centre' for the Commonwealth Games and for financing its other capital expenditure.

The general grants-in-aid to the public broadcaster is to the tune of Rs 1142.41 crore, an increase of over Rs 45 crore over the previous year's. This is provided to cover up the gaps in resources of Prasar Bharati in meeting its revenue expenditure.

The budget has also made a substantial provision for expansion of the braodcasting network in the Northeastern Region.

As against the allocation of Rs 400 Crore in the previous budget, the region has got Rs 700 crore this year.

Plan outlay for broadcasting has almost been doubled--from Rs 269 Crore to Rs 505 Crore this year.

UNI NAZ BDP KP1956