ITV

Tag: AIR

  • DD begins work on next year’s govt. funding

    DD begins work on next year’s govt. funding

    NEW DELHI: India’s television pubcaster Doordarshan, managed by Prasar Bharati, has begun an annual exercise to convey to the government the level of funding it could need for next financial year beginning April 1, 2017.

    While directing the various units  and centres under DD to send in their financial demands, a communiqué from the DD Directorate clarified that such budgeting should not  include any (financial) provisions for vacant posts.

    Prasar Bharati, which runs DD and All India Radio, like many other public broadcasters of the world, is funded with public money that the government allocates to it as part of the country’s annual budgetary
    proposals.

    The official communication from DD head office added that any liabilities from previous year’s budgetary support should be detailed, including separately listing reasons for exceeding allocated budgets for the financial year 2015-16 as also enumerating the likely effect that payment of certain government allowances, bonuses and increased payout to employees likely to have.

    It is estimated that Prasar Bharati has around 40,000 employees on its rolls.

    Though Prasar Bharat is an autonomous organisation, formed under an Act of Parliament of 1990 that was notified only in 1997 paving the way for its formal set up, a majority of its employees are still categorised as government officials, a hangover of pre-Prasar Bharati days when DD and AIR were media units of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). Hence, any revision of pay scales for government officials, as notified earlier this year, has an effect of Prasar Bharati officials too.

    ALSO READ:

    DD sets up ‘War Room’ to revitalise programming & revenues

  • DD begins work on next year’s govt. funding

    DD begins work on next year’s govt. funding

    NEW DELHI: India’s television pubcaster Doordarshan, managed by Prasar Bharati, has begun an annual exercise to convey to the government the level of funding it could need for next financial year beginning April 1, 2017.

    While directing the various units  and centres under DD to send in their financial demands, a communiqué from the DD Directorate clarified that such budgeting should not  include any (financial) provisions for vacant posts.

    Prasar Bharati, which runs DD and All India Radio, like many other public broadcasters of the world, is funded with public money that the government allocates to it as part of the country’s annual budgetary
    proposals.

    The official communication from DD head office added that any liabilities from previous year’s budgetary support should be detailed, including separately listing reasons for exceeding allocated budgets for the financial year 2015-16 as also enumerating the likely effect that payment of certain government allowances, bonuses and increased payout to employees likely to have.

    It is estimated that Prasar Bharati has around 40,000 employees on its rolls.

    Though Prasar Bharat is an autonomous organisation, formed under an Act of Parliament of 1990 that was notified only in 1997 paving the way for its formal set up, a majority of its employees are still categorised as government officials, a hangover of pre-Prasar Bharati days when DD and AIR were media units of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). Hence, any revision of pay scales for government officials, as notified earlier this year, has an effect of Prasar Bharati officials too.

    ALSO READ:

    DD sets up ‘War Room’ to revitalise programming & revenues

  • AIR revenue has shown gradual growth; DD has not: Govt

    AIR revenue has shown gradual growth; DD has not: Govt

    NEW DELHI: In a digital age when most entertainment is downloadable and proliferation of television has made information easily accessible to general public, it’s heartening to note that pubcaster radio is holding its own against public-funded television.

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting (MIB) M Venkaiah Naidu informed Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) that All India Radio, managed by pubcaster Prasar Bharati, has shown a gradual increase in revenues.

    The MIB minister added that on the other hand Doordarshan’s revenue generation has been below par.

    According to Naidu, operational cost of Doordarshan and All India Radio, however, is going north as a result of increased manpower hiring and resultant hike in remunerations and benefits given to government officials.

    Though Prasar Bharati is an autonomous body, the government has been providing non-plan support for meeting 100 per cent expenses towards salary and salary-related expenses and under planned expenditure for technical capital requirements.

    Prasar Bharati has received a total of Rs 9486.52 crore between 2013-2014 and June 2016 as plan or non-plan grant from MIB.

    During these years, the amount peaked in 2015-16 when the total grant was Rs 2795.89 crore.

    Year-wise Details of total expenditure and Revenue of DD and AIR during last five years are given as under:

    (Rs. in crore)

    All India Radio

    Year        Total expenditure          Revenue earned (Exclusive of Service Tax)

    2011-12   1213.58                                       325.01

    2012-13   1322.06                                     319.50

    2013-14   1460.33                                     367.50

    2014-15   1615.70                                     435.10

    2015-16   1710.08                                     447.76

    (Rs. in crore)

    Doordarshan

    Year       Total expenditure          Revenue earned (Exclusive of Service Tax)

    2011-12    1381.38                                              735.32

    2012-13    1501.64                                            1025.78

    2013-14     1602.94                                           1043.13

    2014-15     1815.22                                             911.01

    2015-16     1863.60                                            755.79

    Meanwhile, Naidu added that AIR has no mechanism to undertake audience measurement at regular intervals through field surveys.

    In the year 2014, DD National’s all-India audience ratings were 0.17%. In the year 2015, the ratings percentage dropped to 0.10% owing to the fact that the ratings agency did not cover 100 per cent of DD National on an all- India basis, MIB minister explained to Parliament.

    Government also admitted that increasing reach of other TV channels, mainly privately-owned, into rural areas has eaten into the share of DD viewership.

    In the current year, till the 27th week of 2016, ratings percentage of DD National was 0.11% as per data generated by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), which is an industry initiative.

    EXPENDITURE ON TRANSMITTERS: Over Rs 1,033 crore has been spent by DD on maintenance of low-power and very low powered transmitters.

    The total expenditure incurred by Doordarshan during the last three years was 2013-14 Rs. 318.16 crore; 2014-15 Rs. 349.66 crore and

    2015-16 Rs. 365.65 crore.

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore told the Lok Sabha that Prasar Bharati has 368 very low power TV transmitters (VLPTs) in the country.

    The junior MIB minister said that while no in-house survey has been conducted to assess LPT (low power transmitters) viewership by DD, BARC too doesn’t provide such data.

    Prasar Bharati has decided to close four LPTs as they lie in the coverage zone of nearby high power transmitters (HPTs) in Madhepura (Bihar); Simri Bakhtiarpur (Bihar); Khagaria (Bihar); and Kalna (West Bengal).

    Rathore also added that upgradation/modernization of Doordarshan Kendras is a continuous process.

     

  • AIR revenue has shown gradual growth; DD has not: Govt

    AIR revenue has shown gradual growth; DD has not: Govt

    NEW DELHI: In a digital age when most entertainment is downloadable and proliferation of television has made information easily accessible to general public, it’s heartening to note that pubcaster radio is holding its own against public-funded television.

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting (MIB) M Venkaiah Naidu informed Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) that All India Radio, managed by pubcaster Prasar Bharati, has shown a gradual increase in revenues.

    The MIB minister added that on the other hand Doordarshan’s revenue generation has been below par.

    According to Naidu, operational cost of Doordarshan and All India Radio, however, is going north as a result of increased manpower hiring and resultant hike in remunerations and benefits given to government officials.

    Though Prasar Bharati is an autonomous body, the government has been providing non-plan support for meeting 100 per cent expenses towards salary and salary-related expenses and under planned expenditure for technical capital requirements.

    Prasar Bharati has received a total of Rs 9486.52 crore between 2013-2014 and June 2016 as plan or non-plan grant from MIB.

    During these years, the amount peaked in 2015-16 when the total grant was Rs 2795.89 crore.

    Year-wise Details of total expenditure and Revenue of DD and AIR during last five years are given as under:

    (Rs. in crore)

    All India Radio

    Year        Total expenditure          Revenue earned (Exclusive of Service Tax)

    2011-12   1213.58                                       325.01

    2012-13   1322.06                                     319.50

    2013-14   1460.33                                     367.50

    2014-15   1615.70                                     435.10

    2015-16   1710.08                                     447.76

    (Rs. in crore)

    Doordarshan

    Year       Total expenditure          Revenue earned (Exclusive of Service Tax)

    2011-12    1381.38                                              735.32

    2012-13    1501.64                                            1025.78

    2013-14     1602.94                                           1043.13

    2014-15     1815.22                                             911.01

    2015-16     1863.60                                            755.79

    Meanwhile, Naidu added that AIR has no mechanism to undertake audience measurement at regular intervals through field surveys.

    In the year 2014, DD National’s all-India audience ratings were 0.17%. In the year 2015, the ratings percentage dropped to 0.10% owing to the fact that the ratings agency did not cover 100 per cent of DD National on an all- India basis, MIB minister explained to Parliament.

    Government also admitted that increasing reach of other TV channels, mainly privately-owned, into rural areas has eaten into the share of DD viewership.

    In the current year, till the 27th week of 2016, ratings percentage of DD National was 0.11% as per data generated by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), which is an industry initiative.

    EXPENDITURE ON TRANSMITTERS: Over Rs 1,033 crore has been spent by DD on maintenance of low-power and very low powered transmitters.

    The total expenditure incurred by Doordarshan during the last three years was 2013-14 Rs. 318.16 crore; 2014-15 Rs. 349.66 crore and

    2015-16 Rs. 365.65 crore.

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore told the Lok Sabha that Prasar Bharati has 368 very low power TV transmitters (VLPTs) in the country.

    The junior MIB minister said that while no in-house survey has been conducted to assess LPT (low power transmitters) viewership by DD, BARC too doesn’t provide such data.

    Prasar Bharati has decided to close four LPTs as they lie in the coverage zone of nearby high power transmitters (HPTs) in Madhepura (Bihar); Simri Bakhtiarpur (Bihar); Khagaria (Bihar); and Kalna (West Bengal).

    Rathore also added that upgradation/modernization of Doordarshan Kendras is a continuous process.

     

  • AIR’s new radio station aimed at Bangladesh with Bangladesh content

    AIR’s new radio station aimed at Bangladesh with Bangladesh content

    NEW DELHI: In a unique venture, a new radio station of All India Radio is expected to beam shortly with exclusive programmes aimed at listeners in Bangladesh and the Indo-Bangla border.

    AIR External Services director Amlan Jyoti Mazumdar told indiantelevision.com that the most unique aspect was that the new channel – Akashvani Maitree – it would also beam programmes that are either co-productions or made by Bangladesh programmers. 

    The channel was to have been launched yesterday but President Pranab Mukherjee, who was to be present, put off his trip. All India Radio sources said that a new date would be fixed as soon as there is a confirmation from Rashtrapati Bhavan. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will also be present.

    Mazumdar confirmed that artistes from both sides of the border had arrived in Kolkata for the formal inauguration at Rabindra Bharati auditorium, but said the artistes would come again when a new date is fixed.

    The channel is also unique as it is a terrestrial channel, to be beamed from Chinsurah from a state-of-the-art 1,000 KW DRM high power transmitter which was capable of reaching out to listeners in the entire country (Bangladesh). Officials said AIR was talking to FM stations in Bangladesh to relay the programmes to ensure better service in hinterland Bangladesh.

    Mazumdar also said that another unique aspect of this channel was that it could be streamed online on airworldservice.org and through Apps from anywhere in the world and would therefore prove popular among people who spoke Bengali anywhere in the world.

    This is not the first time that an attempt has been made to reach out to audiences across the border in Bangladesh as a Bangla radio service had been launched in 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation Movement and discontinued in 2010.

    AIR sources said the channel was being re-launched in view of the changed circumstances and the important place Bangladesh occupies in India’s foreign policy.

    Earlier, the radio service ran for 6 hours 30 minutes daily, but the new Akashvani Maitree will run 16 hours a day which will include three news bulletins, one from Bangladesh.

    The content would cover issues ranging from healthcare to agriculture. A programme series profiling different premier medical institutes, super speciality treatments available here, procedures to be followed for availing these services, tentative costs, visa facilitation etc. is also proposed to be broadcast on the service.

    Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar said the service was meant specifically for the people of Bangladesh and will primarily be in Bangla and will highlight the common cultural heritage that connects India and its neighbour.

  • AIR’s new radio station aimed at Bangladesh with Bangladesh content

    AIR’s new radio station aimed at Bangladesh with Bangladesh content

    NEW DELHI: In a unique venture, a new radio station of All India Radio is expected to beam shortly with exclusive programmes aimed at listeners in Bangladesh and the Indo-Bangla border.

    AIR External Services director Amlan Jyoti Mazumdar told indiantelevision.com that the most unique aspect was that the new channel – Akashvani Maitree – it would also beam programmes that are either co-productions or made by Bangladesh programmers. 

    The channel was to have been launched yesterday but President Pranab Mukherjee, who was to be present, put off his trip. All India Radio sources said that a new date would be fixed as soon as there is a confirmation from Rashtrapati Bhavan. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will also be present.

    Mazumdar confirmed that artistes from both sides of the border had arrived in Kolkata for the formal inauguration at Rabindra Bharati auditorium, but said the artistes would come again when a new date is fixed.

    The channel is also unique as it is a terrestrial channel, to be beamed from Chinsurah from a state-of-the-art 1,000 KW DRM high power transmitter which was capable of reaching out to listeners in the entire country (Bangladesh). Officials said AIR was talking to FM stations in Bangladesh to relay the programmes to ensure better service in hinterland Bangladesh.

    Mazumdar also said that another unique aspect of this channel was that it could be streamed online on airworldservice.org and through Apps from anywhere in the world and would therefore prove popular among people who spoke Bengali anywhere in the world.

    This is not the first time that an attempt has been made to reach out to audiences across the border in Bangladesh as a Bangla radio service had been launched in 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation Movement and discontinued in 2010.

    AIR sources said the channel was being re-launched in view of the changed circumstances and the important place Bangladesh occupies in India’s foreign policy.

    Earlier, the radio service ran for 6 hours 30 minutes daily, but the new Akashvani Maitree will run 16 hours a day which will include three news bulletins, one from Bangladesh.

    The content would cover issues ranging from healthcare to agriculture. A programme series profiling different premier medical institutes, super speciality treatments available here, procedures to be followed for availing these services, tentative costs, visa facilitation etc. is also proposed to be broadcast on the service.

    Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar said the service was meant specifically for the people of Bangladesh and will primarily be in Bangla and will highlight the common cultural heritage that connects India and its neighbour.

  • Modi lauds AIR for Mann ki Baat simulcast across radio, TV, DTH, internet

    Modi lauds AIR for Mann ki Baat simulcast across radio, TV, DTH, internet

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded All India Radio for broadcasting his monthly Mann ki Baat in regional languages on the day he talks to the nation.

    The broadcast is visually adapted by Doordarshan and other private TV and news channels in India simultaneously. Similarly, radio in the private sector patches AIR. All DTH operators also carry it.

    It is live streamed for global audience and is accessible through mobile app, allindiaradio.gov.in, apart from the narendramodi.in/mankibaat, mygov.in, and the Narendra Modi app.

    During his monthly broadcast for this month, he said he was also gratified that people were writing to him either on the Narendra Modi app, or mygov.in.

    This was the twentieth time that he talked to the nation through the broadcast which coincided with the completion of two years of his government which assumed office on 20 May 2014.

    He said that initially, a ten-digit missed call had to be made to get a call back to listen to his broadcast. But now one had to dial 1922 toll free and listen to him.

    The broadcast by the entire network of AIR includes all stations, all AIR FM channels (FM Gold and FM Rainbow), local radio stations, Vividh Bharati Stations and five community radio stations.

    It is also broadcast by the Urdu and Hindi Services of the External Services of All India Radio for listeners in the Indian sub-continent and the Indian diaspora spread across the globe.

    The regional versions of the Mann Ki Baat are played at capital AIR stations in non-Hindi speaking zones at 8.00 pm hours on the same day. The regional versions are relayed by all AIR stations including local radio stations in the respective states. The English version of Mann Ki Baat is also broadcast by AIR Delhi at 8.00 pm the same day and also broadcast by the General Overseas Service.

  • Modi lauds AIR for Mann ki Baat simulcast across radio, TV, DTH, internet

    Modi lauds AIR for Mann ki Baat simulcast across radio, TV, DTH, internet

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded All India Radio for broadcasting his monthly Mann ki Baat in regional languages on the day he talks to the nation.

    The broadcast is visually adapted by Doordarshan and other private TV and news channels in India simultaneously. Similarly, radio in the private sector patches AIR. All DTH operators also carry it.

    It is live streamed for global audience and is accessible through mobile app, allindiaradio.gov.in, apart from the narendramodi.in/mankibaat, mygov.in, and the Narendra Modi app.

    During his monthly broadcast for this month, he said he was also gratified that people were writing to him either on the Narendra Modi app, or mygov.in.

    This was the twentieth time that he talked to the nation through the broadcast which coincided with the completion of two years of his government which assumed office on 20 May 2014.

    He said that initially, a ten-digit missed call had to be made to get a call back to listen to his broadcast. But now one had to dial 1922 toll free and listen to him.

    The broadcast by the entire network of AIR includes all stations, all AIR FM channels (FM Gold and FM Rainbow), local radio stations, Vividh Bharati Stations and five community radio stations.

    It is also broadcast by the Urdu and Hindi Services of the External Services of All India Radio for listeners in the Indian sub-continent and the Indian diaspora spread across the globe.

    The regional versions of the Mann Ki Baat are played at capital AIR stations in non-Hindi speaking zones at 8.00 pm hours on the same day. The regional versions are relayed by all AIR stations including local radio stations in the respective states. The English version of Mann Ki Baat is also broadcast by AIR Delhi at 8.00 pm the same day and also broadcast by the General Overseas Service.

  • Parliamentary Committee hopes Prasar Bharati will plan better in 2016-17

    Parliamentary Committee hopes Prasar Bharati will plan better in 2016-17

    NEW DELHI: Noting that delay in Plan Expenditure has affected studio modernization, a Parliamentary Committee has expressed the hope that Prasar Bharati would resort to better planning during 2016-17 in execution of schemes for Doordarshan and All India Radio with available state of-the-art technology and gainfully utilize the allocated funds.

    The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology which goes into I and B issues took note of the assurance of the pubcaster’s chief executive officer Jawhar Sircar in this connection.

    Sircar told the Committee that the reason for under-utilization of Plan funds during 2015-16 as a policy decision was to avoid expenditure on obsolete technology such as analogue transmission, short wave and medium wave radio transmission etc.

    Observing there had been delay in procurement of Camera Chains, XD Cam, Recorders and digitisation of transmitters, the Committee said less utilization of funds is likely to result in spill over of schemes to the next year.

    The Committee noted that for the 12th Five Year Plan, the Government approved a total outlay of Rs 3,826 crore for Prasar Bharati – Rs 2,614.86 crore for Continuing Schemes and Rs 1,211.14 crore for New Schemes.

    The outlay for Broad schemes namely ‘Broadcasting and Infrastructure Network Development’ was Rs 3,500 crore, for ‘Content Development and Dissemination’ Rs 186 crore and for ‘Special Project’ Rs 140 crore.

    In addition, a separate outlay was being provided for ‘Kisan Channel’ – Rs 26 crore in 2014-15, Rs 45 crore in 2015-16 and Rs 60 crore for the year 2016-17.

    For the Annual Plan 2016-17, the total outlay is Rs 450 crore which includes Rs 60 crore for the Kisan Channel and Rs 390 crore for Schemes ‘Broadcasting Infrastructure Network Development’ and ‘Special Projects’.

    The Committee was told that there had been reduction in funds at the Revised Estimates stage as compared to the Broadcast Estimates given in 2015-16 for certain schemes as these were not expected to be executed by the Prasar Bharati during the remaining period of that  financial year. These pertained to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) transmitters, Direct to Home (DTH), Set Top Boxes (STBs), Digital Satellite News Gathering Vehicles (DSNGs) etc., in the case of DD. In the case of AIR, the requirement of funds was reduced, broadly because various schemes of AIR were reviewed in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and those found as having negative cost benefits were ordered to be ceased or tapered off.

    The Committee noted that the Ministry had released Rs 453.77 crore to Prasar Bharati during the year 2015-16 and this amount was construed as expenditure by the ministry. However, Prasar Bharati said out of this, an amount of Rs 246.42 crore had been actually booked as expenditure by them which includes Rs 220.17 crore on Plan Capital in AIR and DD and Rs 26.25 crore for Content Development and Dissemination for DD Kisan.

  • Parliamentary Committee hopes Prasar Bharati will plan better in 2016-17

    Parliamentary Committee hopes Prasar Bharati will plan better in 2016-17

    NEW DELHI: Noting that delay in Plan Expenditure has affected studio modernization, a Parliamentary Committee has expressed the hope that Prasar Bharati would resort to better planning during 2016-17 in execution of schemes for Doordarshan and All India Radio with available state of-the-art technology and gainfully utilize the allocated funds.

    The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology which goes into I and B issues took note of the assurance of the pubcaster’s chief executive officer Jawhar Sircar in this connection.

    Sircar told the Committee that the reason for under-utilization of Plan funds during 2015-16 as a policy decision was to avoid expenditure on obsolete technology such as analogue transmission, short wave and medium wave radio transmission etc.

    Observing there had been delay in procurement of Camera Chains, XD Cam, Recorders and digitisation of transmitters, the Committee said less utilization of funds is likely to result in spill over of schemes to the next year.

    The Committee noted that for the 12th Five Year Plan, the Government approved a total outlay of Rs 3,826 crore for Prasar Bharati – Rs 2,614.86 crore for Continuing Schemes and Rs 1,211.14 crore for New Schemes.

    The outlay for Broad schemes namely ‘Broadcasting and Infrastructure Network Development’ was Rs 3,500 crore, for ‘Content Development and Dissemination’ Rs 186 crore and for ‘Special Project’ Rs 140 crore.

    In addition, a separate outlay was being provided for ‘Kisan Channel’ – Rs 26 crore in 2014-15, Rs 45 crore in 2015-16 and Rs 60 crore for the year 2016-17.

    For the Annual Plan 2016-17, the total outlay is Rs 450 crore which includes Rs 60 crore for the Kisan Channel and Rs 390 crore for Schemes ‘Broadcasting Infrastructure Network Development’ and ‘Special Projects’.

    The Committee was told that there had been reduction in funds at the Revised Estimates stage as compared to the Broadcast Estimates given in 2015-16 for certain schemes as these were not expected to be executed by the Prasar Bharati during the remaining period of that  financial year. These pertained to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) transmitters, Direct to Home (DTH), Set Top Boxes (STBs), Digital Satellite News Gathering Vehicles (DSNGs) etc., in the case of DD. In the case of AIR, the requirement of funds was reduced, broadly because various schemes of AIR were reviewed in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and those found as having negative cost benefits were ordered to be ceased or tapered off.

    The Committee noted that the Ministry had released Rs 453.77 crore to Prasar Bharati during the year 2015-16 and this amount was construed as expenditure by the ministry. However, Prasar Bharati said out of this, an amount of Rs 246.42 crore had been actually booked as expenditure by them which includes Rs 220.17 crore on Plan Capital in AIR and DD and Rs 26.25 crore for Content Development and Dissemination for DD Kisan.