Lok Sabha Question No. 98 (STARRED), answered on 2018-02-08
Subject: Closure of Analog Transmitters
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: SANTOSH AHLAWAT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*98 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2018)

## CLOSURE OF ANALOG TRANSMITTERS

## *98.  SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT:

## Will  the  MINISTER  OF  INFORMATION  AND  BROADCASTING  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  issued  an  order  with  regard  to  the  closure  of analog transmitters in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  analog  transmitters  which  have  been  closed  by  the Government, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  upgrade  all  the  analog  transmitters into digital ones and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  analog  transmitters  are  the  only way of infotainment for the people living in the remote/rural areas and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  make  alternate  arrangements  for transmission of programmes in these areas and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. *98 FOR ANSWER ON 08.02.2018.

(a)  &  (b) Prasar  Bharati  has  informed  that  no  such  orders  have  been  issued  in respect of All India Radio (AIR) as of now. However, in view of modern broadcasting trends, a Committee was set up to review the continuation of Terrestrial analog TV Transmitters. On  the recommendation  of the Committee, closure of Analog Terrestrial Transmitters (ATT) in a phased manner has been approved by the Prasar Bharati Board. Accordingly, order for closure of 272 ATTs has been issued by Prasar Bharati. State/UT-wise details of these transmitters are available on Doordarshan's website www.ddindia.gov.in at the following link:

http://www.ddindia.gov.in/AboutDD/Pages/Doordarshan-Transmitters.aspx.

In  addition,  order  for  closure  of  38  ATTs  at  18  locations  has  been  issued where  Digital  Terrestrial  Transmitters  (DTT)  have  already  been  commissioned. These details are also available at Doordarshan's website www.ddindia.gov.in at the following link:

http://www.ddindia.gov.in/AboutDD/Pages/Doordarshan-Transmitters.aspx

- (c) The  Analog  terrestrial  transmission  world  over  including  India  is  being  made digital as Digital Terrestrial Transmission (DTT) has several advantages like  better quality of picture & sound, more number of channels for viewers etc. As part of 11 th and  12 th Plan  Schemes,  Government  of  India  has  approved  setting  up  of  Digital Terrestrial TV  Transmitters (DTTs)  at 63 locations. The  list is available on Doordarshan's website www.ddindia.gov.in at the following link:

http://www.ddindia.gov.in/AboutDD/Pages/Doordarshan-Transmitters.aspx

Similarly  for  AIR,  replacement/  Up-gradation  of  36  valve  based  MW/  SW Analog  Transmitters  by  new  technology  Solid  State  Digital  (DRM)  MW/  SW Transmitters has been completed. Replacement of valve based MW Transmitters at 6  places  in  Left  Wing  Extremism  (LWE)  affected  areas  by  digital  ready  MW transmitters is targeted for completion in this year.

(d) & (e) At present even in the rural/remote areas broadcasts are available through multiple modes.

Doordarshan is operating its free to air DTH service 'DD free Dish'. This is free to air platform and the viewers do not have to pay monthly subscription fee as in the case of Cable TV and Pay DTH. DTH signals can be received anywhere in the country including those living in the remote/rural areas, with the help of small sized low cost dish receive units. 39 Channels of AIR are also available on Doordarshan's DTH platform.

As far as AIR is concerned, all the new Digital MW transmitters [as stated in para (c)] are broadcasting in analog as well as digital mode simultaneously and can be received on the conventional radio sets also.

AIR  is  already  disseminating  infotainment  across  the  country  by  alternate ways of Internet and Satellite communication. 17 popular channels of AIR can be received through internet by browsing AIR's website <www.allindiaradio.gov.in> and by downloading suitable apps on iOS/ Android based mobile phones.

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