(a) whether the Government/Prasar Bharati has drawn up a plan for the modernisation of
Doordarshan;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the new technologies, equipment and infrastructure
proposed to be upgraded; and
(c) the allocation made in this regard in the current Five Year Plan and the manner in which the allocation is proposed to be utilised?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SMT. AMBIKA SONI)
(a) to (c) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) of LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.264 FOR
08.12.2009
Modernization of Doordarshan is a continuous process. Doordarshan has been formulating and
implementing schemes for modernization of its facilities from time to time. It has also been
keeping itself abreast of the latest technological developments in the field of TV broadcasting
and adopting new technologies to the extent possible, within the available resources. The
emphasis in the Eleventh Plan schemes is primarily on modernization, this being a key thrust
area. These schemes include work on digitalization of existing Studios, establishment of
digital transmitters, replacement & augmentation of old Studio, Transmitter & Satellite
broadcast equipment & setting up of HDTV facilities.
Presently Doordarshan has a total of 66 studio centres spread all over the country. Out of
66 studio centres, 23 centres are either already digitalized or being digitalized. 39 studio
centers, which are partially digitalized or analog are planned to be fully digitalized in
the 11th Plan. Remaining four studios, which are analog, are proposed to be digitalized in
the 12th Plan.
It is planned to take up 40 locations where analog High Power Transmitters are operational
for setting up of Digital terrestrial transmitters (DTT) in the country during the 11th Plan.
In addition, it is proposed to replace existing obsolete 14 numbers of High Power TV
transmitters (HPTs) and 60 numbers of Lower Power TV transmitters (LPTs) by state of the art
analog transmitters besides modernization and augmentation of equipment at existing studio
centres.
Satellite Earth Stations are used in Doordarshan for networking of its programmes/ channels
throughout the country. It is proposed to upgrade and modernize existing Earth Stations,
Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) equipment in the 11th Plan.
High Definition TV (HDTV) broadcasting transmission provides pictures with a resolution 4 to
5 times higher than the existing transmission. It provides clear, noise free picture quality
on wide screen TV receivers in aspect ratio of 16:9. It is proposed to establish two
numbers of HDTV studios in Delhi and Mumbai, field production & post production facilities
in four metros, HDTV uplink at Delhi apart from HDTV terrestrial transmitters in four metros.
An outlay of Rs. 1369 crore approved for the new schemes in the 11th Plan includes, inter
alia, an amount of Rs. 1209 crore for modernization purpose.