(a) whether the Government has rolled back the offer of inclusion of more private channels in free to air Direct to Home services of Doordarshan; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?
(a) whether the Government has rolled back the offer of inclusion of more private channels in free to air Direct to Home services of Doordarshan; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (DR. S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN)
(a) and (b) Doordarshan’s DTH platform, at present, has capacity of 59 Standard Definition (SD) TV channels. A Plan scheme for upgradation
of Doordarshan’s DTH Platform to 97 TV channels was approved by the Government in August, 2010. Prasar Bharati Board later approved further expansion of Doordarshan’s DTH platform to 150 TV channels. An additional satellite transponder was required for upgradation of DTH platform.
The additional satellite transponder has not yet been made available by Indian Space Research Organisation/Department Of Space. Therefore, Prasar Bharati have decided to increase capacity of DTH Platform to 75 channels utilizing the available satellite transponders.