Lok Sabha Question No. 5626 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-26
Subject: Revamping Doordarshan and All India Radio
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Bhartruhari Mahtab

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5626

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2019)

## REVAMPING DOORDARSHAN AND ALL INDIA RADIO

5626. SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE:

## SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) the schemes/programmes being implemented by the Government  to  revamp  Doordarshan  and  All  India  Radio  to enable them to compete with the private television channels and radio stations in the country;
- (b) whether the Government has provided adequate funds under the  said  schemes/programmes during each of the last three years and the current year, if so, the details thereof, State/UTwise and scheme/ programme-wise;
- (c)  the  profits  earned/losses  suffered  by  Doordarshan  and  All India Radio during the said period; and
- (d)  the  further  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve Doordarshan  and  All  India  Radio  at  par  with  the  Private Television Channels and Radio Stations in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)  &  (b):  Prasar  Bharati  has  informed  that  modernization  is  a continuous  process  and  schemes  in  this  regard  have  been formulated and implemented from time to time for Doordarshan and All India Radio. Modernization plan covers a broad spectrum, which, inter alia, includes digitalization; adoption of new technologies at par with International standards; replacement of old/ outlived equipment and up gradation etc.

The Central Government has approved an amount of Rs. 1054.52 crore under the Scheme of Prasar Bharati 'Broadcasting

Infrastructure and Network Development' for the period 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-2020 for strengthening/revamping of infrastructure/programmes of Doordarshan and All India Radio.

- (c)    As  per  audit  Annual  Account,  the  surplus  earned/deficit suffered by Prasar Bharati during  FY 2016-17 to 2018-19 are as under:-

Rs. in Crores

| 2016-17               |   2572.80 | (Surplus)   |
|-----------------------|-----------|-------------|
| 2017-18               |    295.79 | (Deficit)   |
| 2018-19 (Provisional) |     13.97 | (Surplus)   |

(d)  As  the  Public  Service  Broadcaster,  the  mandate  of  Prasar Bharati is on the issues of public interest viz. health, education, empowerment,  social  justice  etc.,  thus  the  programming  of Doordarshan and All India Radio are not comparable with other private channels as both are totally different in  their objectives and programming formats.

It is the constant endeavour of Doordarshan and All India Radio to improve the quality of its programmes.

As a reflection of competitiveness of DD  vis-à-vis private channels, it is to mention that 'DD India' channel is among the top  3  English  News  Channel  as  per  the  ratings  of  Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC). Similarly, 'DD Sports' channel is in the top 5 sports channels during the live telecast of sporting events of National importance.

Further,  in  order  to  improve  the  quality  of  programmes,  Prasar Bharati is having wide network of 46 Audience Research Unit in All  India  radio  across  the  country,  which  regularly  provides feedback of the programmes broadcast on each AIR channels to the programme  producers  to plan, design and modify the programmes according to the needs, tastes and aspiration of the target audience.

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