ITV

Tag: Prasar Bharati

  • 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: uniform policy for Casual Artistes in Prasar Bharati needed

    Parliamentary Committee: uniform policy for Casual Artistes in Prasar Bharati needed

    New Delhi: A Parliamentary Committee has asked the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Prasar Bharati to work out a uniform policy regarding empanelment/engagement of casuals, without compromising on the quality of performance of the Doordarshan Kendras and All India Radio Stations.

    The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology which goes into I and B issues noted that the issue of regularization of casual workers was a major problem, both in Doordarshan Kendras and AIR stations.

    Keeping in view the problems faced by casuals, Prasar Bharati has taken some decisions in recent years to address their grievances. For example, in case a casual has put in 120 days or more in a year, he/she would be given relaxation of age in the matter of direct recruitment to the posts against which they are being booked provided they fulfil the educational and other qualifications of the post as per the Recruitment Regulations. This provision has already been incorporated in the Recruitment Regulations for the posts for which recruitment has recently been undertaken through SSC.

    Apart from this, orders have been issued to the effect that all existing panels would be reviewed and no new empanelment of casuals would be done without approval of the DG concerned, with a view to stopping indiscriminate empanelment of casuals.

    The Committee appreciated that Prasar Bharati had taken cognizance of the problems faced by casual workers and some steps had been put in place for their benefit. The Committee feel that if implemented in the right earnest, these measures would address some of the grievances of casual workers to a great extent, given the legal scenario.

    The Ministry told the Committee that there was no uniform policy for empanelment or engagement of casuals. It was left to the discretion of Station/Kendra Heads who had been empanelling casuals based on requirements from time to time. The number of casuals increased with the expansion of DD and AIR by adding more Stations/Kendras, shifts, etc.

    However due to legal compulsions, such casuals are being engaged for a maximum of six days in a month to avoid any claim for regularization in the job. Since the maximum booking in a month for a casual is of six days and the programmes are to be telecast/broadcast daily, at least five casuals are being put on the panel for a particular job. There are approximately 20,000 casuals who are on the panels of AIR/ Doordarshan.

    As a one-time exercise, Doordarshan had formulated a policy in 1992 (modified in 1994) for regularization of casual artistes who had put in 120 days of work in a year. However, after obtaining the views of the Additional Solicitor General, the process was again started with the approval of Prasar Bharati Board.

    Under this process, 233 eligible casual artistes have been regularized. 202 eligible casual workers who were conferred Temporary Status Worker (TSW) status under the Department of Persnnel and Training Scheme of 1993 have also been regularized against vacancies.

    The Committee has been given to understand that regularization would not be legally possible in view of the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of State of Karnataka vs. Uma Devi as these casuals are not employed but are only empanelled. Even otherwise, the number of casuals is so large that it is neither feasible nor practical to regularize them.

  • Parliamentary Committee: uniform policy for Casual Artistes in Prasar Bharati needed

    Parliamentary Committee: uniform policy for Casual Artistes in Prasar Bharati needed

    New Delhi: A Parliamentary Committee has asked the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Prasar Bharati to work out a uniform policy regarding empanelment/engagement of casuals, without compromising on the quality of performance of the Doordarshan Kendras and All India Radio Stations.

    The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology which goes into I and B issues noted that the issue of regularization of casual workers was a major problem, both in Doordarshan Kendras and AIR stations.

    Keeping in view the problems faced by casuals, Prasar Bharati has taken some decisions in recent years to address their grievances. For example, in case a casual has put in 120 days or more in a year, he/she would be given relaxation of age in the matter of direct recruitment to the posts against which they are being booked provided they fulfil the educational and other qualifications of the post as per the Recruitment Regulations. This provision has already been incorporated in the Recruitment Regulations for the posts for which recruitment has recently been undertaken through SSC.

    Apart from this, orders have been issued to the effect that all existing panels would be reviewed and no new empanelment of casuals would be done without approval of the DG concerned, with a view to stopping indiscriminate empanelment of casuals.

    The Committee appreciated that Prasar Bharati had taken cognizance of the problems faced by casual workers and some steps had been put in place for their benefit. The Committee feel that if implemented in the right earnest, these measures would address some of the grievances of casual workers to a great extent, given the legal scenario.

    The Ministry told the Committee that there was no uniform policy for empanelment or engagement of casuals. It was left to the discretion of Station/Kendra Heads who had been empanelling casuals based on requirements from time to time. The number of casuals increased with the expansion of DD and AIR by adding more Stations/Kendras, shifts, etc.

    However due to legal compulsions, such casuals are being engaged for a maximum of six days in a month to avoid any claim for regularization in the job. Since the maximum booking in a month for a casual is of six days and the programmes are to be telecast/broadcast daily, at least five casuals are being put on the panel for a particular job. There are approximately 20,000 casuals who are on the panels of AIR/ Doordarshan.

    As a one-time exercise, Doordarshan had formulated a policy in 1992 (modified in 1994) for regularization of casual artistes who had put in 120 days of work in a year. However, after obtaining the views of the Additional Solicitor General, the process was again started with the approval of Prasar Bharati Board.

    Under this process, 233 eligible casual artistes have been regularized. 202 eligible casual workers who were conferred Temporary Status Worker (TSW) status under the Department of Persnnel and Training Scheme of 1993 have also been regularized against vacancies.

    The Committee has been given to understand that regularization would not be legally possible in view of the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of State of Karnataka vs. Uma Devi as these casuals are not employed but are only empanelled. Even otherwise, the number of casuals is so large that it is neither feasible nor practical to regularize them.

  • Parliamentary Committee: I&B allocations and Plan Execution Strategy

    Parliamentary Committee: I&B allocations and Plan Execution Strategy

    NEW DELHI: A Parliamentary Committee has said it is ‘constrained’ that the quantum allocation for the Information and Broadcasting ministry under the Plan segment so far in the 12th Plan period is insufficient to fulfil the envisaged objectives and has recommended a high level review for requisite enhancement of Plan fund allocation in the ensuing Plan period.

    This was particularly so considering the wide mandate of this ministry to reach out to the billion plus population of the country, the Standing Committee for Information Technology which examines issues relating to I&B said.

    A scrutiny of trend of utilization of Plan funds during the four years of the 12th Plan Period (2012-13 to 2015-16) indicates that a sum of Rs 2,802.72 crore was spent against the Budget Estimate (BE) allocation of Rs 3,729.53 crore in the corresponding period.

    When compared to the Revised Estimate (RE) allocation which was of the order of Rs 2,918 crore for these years, it depicts 96 percent utilization.

    The Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) approved for the ministry in the 12th Five Year Plan was Rs 7,583 crore, accounting for 39 percent increase over the 11th Plan allocation.

    For the year 2016-17, the Committee said the ministry should take up the matter with the Finance ministry for enhancement of Plan funding at the RE stage. Most importantly, the ministry should also take steps to strengthen its Plan execution strategy so that the fund allocated at the BE stage in the current fiscal is optimally utilized.

    The Committee which comprises members of both Houses of Parliament wanted to be apprised of the steps taken by the ministry for overall increase in the allocation of funds and measures taken to scale up financial performance in the year 2016-17.

    A close look at the financial performance of the ministry for the year 2015-16 indicated that they were able to spend Rs 734.39 crore on Plan schemes against an outlay of Rs 914.53 crore at the BE Stage.

    The reasons for shortfall in utilization of funds during 2015-16 had been broadly attributed to reduction of outlay at the RE stage by the Finance ministry, long processes for procurement of goods and services for Prasar Bharati, and delay in approval of the new schemes for the 12th Five Year Plan period under the sectors particularly in Film and Broadcasting.

    The Committee noted that the ministry stated that the low expenditure of Prasar Bharati had poorly reflected on the ministry’s overall expenditure for the year 2015-16. An outlay of Rs 800 crore has been made for financing the Plan schemes of the ministry for the year 2016-17, which is Rs 114.53 crore lesser than the BE allocation made in the year 2015-16. According to the ministry, the overall reduction in allocation of funds would impact financing of the planned schemes.

    The Committee which comprises members of both houses of parliament observed that the annual Plan expenditure of the ministry so far during the 12th Plan period, on an average, has been a little over Rs 700 crore.

    In its statement, the ministry told the Committee that the GRB for the 11th Plan stood at Rs 5,439 crore for financing the Plan schemes of the ministry. The GBS for the 12th Five Year Plan period was increased by over 39 percent amounting to Rs 7,583 crore during the 12th Plan period. Besides, a provision of Rs 1,000 crore had been kept for Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR) by Prasar Bharati for financing the new content development schemes of Prasar Bharati during the 12th Five Year Plan.

    The ministry said the increased GBS helped it in achieving various goals and objectives including completion of the New Media Centre and Soochna Bhavan, successfully commemorating 100 years of Indian cinema, launching of Social Media Platform to enable government’s presence and to have direct interface with target audience, increased monitoring capacity of TV channels by the Electronic Media Monitoring Centre, visible increase in community Radio stations, successful completion of Phases I, II, III (substantially) of Cable TV Digitization and launching and operationalization of the Kisan Channel.

    The utilization trend of funds during the four years of the 12th Plan (Rs in crores) is:

    YEAR

    2012-13

    2013-14

    2014-15

    2015-16

    Total

    BE

    905.00

    905.00

    1005.00

    914.53

    3729.53

    RE

    676.00

    740.00

    752.00

    750.00

    2918

    Expenditure

    612.10

    715.22

    740.78

    734.39

    2802.74

    percent Exp w.r.t RE

    91

    97

    99

    98

    96 (2012-13 to 2015-16)
  • Parliamentary Committee: I&B allocations and Plan Execution Strategy

    Parliamentary Committee: I&B allocations and Plan Execution Strategy

    NEW DELHI: A Parliamentary Committee has said it is ‘constrained’ that the quantum allocation for the Information and Broadcasting ministry under the Plan segment so far in the 12th Plan period is insufficient to fulfil the envisaged objectives and has recommended a high level review for requisite enhancement of Plan fund allocation in the ensuing Plan period.

    This was particularly so considering the wide mandate of this ministry to reach out to the billion plus population of the country, the Standing Committee for Information Technology which examines issues relating to I&B said.

    A scrutiny of trend of utilization of Plan funds during the four years of the 12th Plan Period (2012-13 to 2015-16) indicates that a sum of Rs 2,802.72 crore was spent against the Budget Estimate (BE) allocation of Rs 3,729.53 crore in the corresponding period.

    When compared to the Revised Estimate (RE) allocation which was of the order of Rs 2,918 crore for these years, it depicts 96 percent utilization.

    The Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) approved for the ministry in the 12th Five Year Plan was Rs 7,583 crore, accounting for 39 percent increase over the 11th Plan allocation.

    For the year 2016-17, the Committee said the ministry should take up the matter with the Finance ministry for enhancement of Plan funding at the RE stage. Most importantly, the ministry should also take steps to strengthen its Plan execution strategy so that the fund allocated at the BE stage in the current fiscal is optimally utilized.

    The Committee which comprises members of both Houses of Parliament wanted to be apprised of the steps taken by the ministry for overall increase in the allocation of funds and measures taken to scale up financial performance in the year 2016-17.

    A close look at the financial performance of the ministry for the year 2015-16 indicated that they were able to spend Rs 734.39 crore on Plan schemes against an outlay of Rs 914.53 crore at the BE Stage.

    The reasons for shortfall in utilization of funds during 2015-16 had been broadly attributed to reduction of outlay at the RE stage by the Finance ministry, long processes for procurement of goods and services for Prasar Bharati, and delay in approval of the new schemes for the 12th Five Year Plan period under the sectors particularly in Film and Broadcasting.

    The Committee noted that the ministry stated that the low expenditure of Prasar Bharati had poorly reflected on the ministry’s overall expenditure for the year 2015-16. An outlay of Rs 800 crore has been made for financing the Plan schemes of the ministry for the year 2016-17, which is Rs 114.53 crore lesser than the BE allocation made in the year 2015-16. According to the ministry, the overall reduction in allocation of funds would impact financing of the planned schemes.

    The Committee which comprises members of both houses of parliament observed that the annual Plan expenditure of the ministry so far during the 12th Plan period, on an average, has been a little over Rs 700 crore.

    In its statement, the ministry told the Committee that the GRB for the 11th Plan stood at Rs 5,439 crore for financing the Plan schemes of the ministry. The GBS for the 12th Five Year Plan period was increased by over 39 percent amounting to Rs 7,583 crore during the 12th Plan period. Besides, a provision of Rs 1,000 crore had been kept for Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR) by Prasar Bharati for financing the new content development schemes of Prasar Bharati during the 12th Five Year Plan.

    The ministry said the increased GBS helped it in achieving various goals and objectives including completion of the New Media Centre and Soochna Bhavan, successfully commemorating 100 years of Indian cinema, launching of Social Media Platform to enable government’s presence and to have direct interface with target audience, increased monitoring capacity of TV channels by the Electronic Media Monitoring Centre, visible increase in community Radio stations, successful completion of Phases I, II, III (substantially) of Cable TV Digitization and launching and operationalization of the Kisan Channel.

    The utilization trend of funds during the four years of the 12th Plan (Rs in crores) is:

    YEAR

    2012-13

    2013-14

    2014-15

    2015-16

    Total

    BE

    905.00

    905.00

    1005.00

    914.53

    3729.53

    RE

    676.00

    740.00

    752.00

    750.00

    2918

    Expenditure

    612.10

    715.22

    740.78

    734.39

    2802.74

    percent Exp w.r.t RE

    91

    97

    99

    98

    96 (2012-13 to 2015-16)
  • Plan expenditure of Prasar Bharati mostly goes into technical equipment, Jaitley justifies revised estimates

    Plan expenditure of Prasar Bharati mostly goes into technical equipment, Jaitley justifies revised estimates

    New Delhi: Around 95% of the Plan expenditure of Prasar Bharati currently involves technical equipment and the endeavour is to provide momentum to technical infrastructure projects, Information and Broadcasting Ministry Arun Jaitley said today.

    Answering a question in Parliament about Revised Estimates (REs), he said these are prepared to optimize utilization of allocated funds according to the progress of various projects and time schedule of supply of equipment/works.

    Out of the REs during the last three years, reduction in RE during 2013-14 with reference to Budget Estimate (BE) of that year was marginal.

    During 2014-15, reduction in RE was largely due to cancellation of tenders received on e-procurement portal, Cancellation of tenders on techno-commercial evaluation, delay in supply of equipment etc.

    During the year 2015-16, RE was reduced due to various reasons such as time taken regarding decision on clustering & de-clustering of digital transmitters, non participation of bidders in tendering process etc. 

    The alternatives available for the technical/technology choices and the plan of action, with the chosen technology, require wide consultations which consume time and, to prevent sub-optimal choices, expenditure is postponed. This, at times, leads to reduction in plan expenditure at RE stage. This also was a contributing factor in the last two years. 

    Doordarshan follows rules & procedures based on the guidelines given in the Directorate General of Supplies & Disposals (DGS&D) Manual, GFR 2005 and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines for procurement of Capital equipment/Turnkey projects on Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning (SITC) basis etc.

    Tenders are invited through e-procurement mode, as per the mandate of Ministry of Finance, and according to the Standard Bidding Document prescribed by the Prasar Bharati. Ministry/Prasar Bharati have no plans to follow the policy (ies) of private broadcasters in so far as procurement of equipment/finalization of tenders is concerned.

  • Plan expenditure of Prasar Bharati mostly goes into technical equipment, Jaitley justifies revised estimates

    Plan expenditure of Prasar Bharati mostly goes into technical equipment, Jaitley justifies revised estimates

    New Delhi: Around 95% of the Plan expenditure of Prasar Bharati currently involves technical equipment and the endeavour is to provide momentum to technical infrastructure projects, Information and Broadcasting Ministry Arun Jaitley said today.

    Answering a question in Parliament about Revised Estimates (REs), he said these are prepared to optimize utilization of allocated funds according to the progress of various projects and time schedule of supply of equipment/works.

    Out of the REs during the last three years, reduction in RE during 2013-14 with reference to Budget Estimate (BE) of that year was marginal.

    During 2014-15, reduction in RE was largely due to cancellation of tenders received on e-procurement portal, Cancellation of tenders on techno-commercial evaluation, delay in supply of equipment etc.

    During the year 2015-16, RE was reduced due to various reasons such as time taken regarding decision on clustering & de-clustering of digital transmitters, non participation of bidders in tendering process etc. 

    The alternatives available for the technical/technology choices and the plan of action, with the chosen technology, require wide consultations which consume time and, to prevent sub-optimal choices, expenditure is postponed. This, at times, leads to reduction in plan expenditure at RE stage. This also was a contributing factor in the last two years. 

    Doordarshan follows rules & procedures based on the guidelines given in the Directorate General of Supplies & Disposals (DGS&D) Manual, GFR 2005 and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines for procurement of Capital equipment/Turnkey projects on Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning (SITC) basis etc.

    Tenders are invited through e-procurement mode, as per the mandate of Ministry of Finance, and according to the Standard Bidding Document prescribed by the Prasar Bharati. Ministry/Prasar Bharati have no plans to follow the policy (ies) of private broadcasters in so far as procurement of equipment/finalization of tenders is concerned.

  • Successful bidders can start FM channels: I and B Ministry

    Successful bidders can start FM channels: I and B Ministry

    NEW DELHI: Operators who have recently won bids successfully for FM Radio stations have been asked to operationalize their channels as early as possible since “time is money and spectrum sold is still unutilized.”

    Information and Broadcasting ministry joint secretary (B-II) Mihir Kumar Singh said this will benefit all stakeholders including the ministry as annual fee realization will also start early.

    However addressing a meeting of the FM operators, Singh said the ministry was agreeable to allowing interim set-up subject to the interim stations being in the same premises from where regular CTI is operating; and payments to Prasar Bharati and Broadcasting Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd is made in full according to mutual consent.

    The meeting on 27 April was at the instance of four FM Radio operators viz. ENIL, HTML, RBNL and MBL for being allowed to operationalise their fresh FM radio channels from interim set-up till the CTI facility is prepared by BECIL. The ten private FM representatives present also included representatives of Mathrubhumi and DB Corp.

    The representatives of the companies were informed that the ministry was cautious in the matter as the operators at Chennai who were earlier given interim set up permission are yet to shift to the CTI facility at Avadi.

    Upon enquiry about BECIL’s timelines to complete the CTI facilities, BECIL CMD George Kuruvila said though the target dates for all the cities is September 2016, BECIL would be able to complete CTI facilities for new FM channels in some cities in July-August.

    It also agreed to provide city-wise timelines which was done.

    All India Radio Resoirces GM (Commercial) AN Sharma said only single dipole, 7/8 inch cable with 3kw transmitter can be allowed for interim set-up. The range of transmission will be 15-20 km.

    The operators should arrange for their power supply as Prasar Bharati will not be able to provide additional power required for interim set-up. The operation of interim set-up should not pose any hurdle for the regular CTI facilities being created for new FM channels.

    Prasar Bharati was requested to give details of tower aperture, land space and rentals that
    it would be willing to share and the pubcaster would so so within two days.

    Kuruvila said since the interim set-up will be in the same premises for which SACFA clearance is available, BECIL will inform the WPC on the interim set-up on behalf of the operators.

    All the operators sought a week’s time for giving their views and so the next meeting is fixed for 6 May.

  • Successful bidders can start FM channels: I and B Ministry

    Successful bidders can start FM channels: I and B Ministry

    NEW DELHI: Operators who have recently won bids successfully for FM Radio stations have been asked to operationalize their channels as early as possible since “time is money and spectrum sold is still unutilized.”

    Information and Broadcasting ministry joint secretary (B-II) Mihir Kumar Singh said this will benefit all stakeholders including the ministry as annual fee realization will also start early.

    However addressing a meeting of the FM operators, Singh said the ministry was agreeable to allowing interim set-up subject to the interim stations being in the same premises from where regular CTI is operating; and payments to Prasar Bharati and Broadcasting Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd is made in full according to mutual consent.

    The meeting on 27 April was at the instance of four FM Radio operators viz. ENIL, HTML, RBNL and MBL for being allowed to operationalise their fresh FM radio channels from interim set-up till the CTI facility is prepared by BECIL. The ten private FM representatives present also included representatives of Mathrubhumi and DB Corp.

    The representatives of the companies were informed that the ministry was cautious in the matter as the operators at Chennai who were earlier given interim set up permission are yet to shift to the CTI facility at Avadi.

    Upon enquiry about BECIL’s timelines to complete the CTI facilities, BECIL CMD George Kuruvila said though the target dates for all the cities is September 2016, BECIL would be able to complete CTI facilities for new FM channels in some cities in July-August.

    It also agreed to provide city-wise timelines which was done.

    All India Radio Resoirces GM (Commercial) AN Sharma said only single dipole, 7/8 inch cable with 3kw transmitter can be allowed for interim set-up. The range of transmission will be 15-20 km.

    The operators should arrange for their power supply as Prasar Bharati will not be able to provide additional power required for interim set-up. The operation of interim set-up should not pose any hurdle for the regular CTI facilities being created for new FM channels.

    Prasar Bharati was requested to give details of tower aperture, land space and rentals that
    it would be willing to share and the pubcaster would so so within two days.

    Kuruvila said since the interim set-up will be in the same premises for which SACFA clearance is available, BECIL will inform the WPC on the interim set-up on behalf of the operators.

    All the operators sought a week’s time for giving their views and so the next meeting is fixed for 6 May.

  • DD’s programme acquisition spends over Rs 108 crore for 2015-16

    DD’s programme acquisition spends over Rs 108 crore for 2015-16

    NEW DELHI: Doordarshan, which is now working on a plan to auction prim time slots, spent over Rs 108.5 crore in acquiring programmes in 2015-16. The pubcaster had spent just over Rs 71 crore in 2014-15 and a little above Rs 96.52 crore in 2013-14.

    Prasar Bharati sources told indiantelevision.com that its board had advised DD to proceed with an alternative policy by opening-up prime slots for sale in its 127th meeting on 17 June 2015.

    Doordarshan sources said it was anticipating higher side of revenues from sale of slots. Accordingly, DD proposed a slot sale policy, so that genuine external and creative professionals could mount their programmes on DD Channels through slot purchase. In this scheme DD would stop financing production through “Pay Out” modes and instead have revenue assurance in the form of a slot fee.

    The policy envisages that producers are made stake holders in the scheme. They would invest in the content and recover the same from the market through sale of associated commercial time. In such a situation, market forces would ensure that high quality standards were maintained for the content mounted.

    Sale of slots could provide a platform to DD to partner with the best content developers for improved viewership and financial health.