Question : CONSORTIUM ON DTH

(a) whether the Prasar Bharati has approached State-owned telecom service providers BSNL and MTNL to participate in a consortium for its DTH (direct-to-home) telecast through the digital KU-band proposed to be launched by DD Doordarshan;

(b) whether the DD is hiring four satellite KU-band project to covering the remaining 20% of the population that does not get its transmission due to limitation of the terrestrial system`s reach; (

(c) if so, the facts and details thereof;

(d) whether the Planning Commission has approved Rs. 500 crores for Prasar Bharati, DD-DTH Project forax to be spent over five years; and

(e) if so, the concrete steps Government propose to utilise this fund?

THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) to (e): The Tenth Five Year Plan of Doordarshan, inter-alia, includes a scheme for expansion of T.V. coverage, through satellite transmission in Ku-band with an outlay of Rs.500 crores approximately A pilot scheme of `Ku-band transmission` has been formulated, which is yet to be approved by the competent authority. Prasar Bharati had held preliminary discussion with the Department of Space and MTNL, in connection with the above scheme.