Lok Sabha Question No. 1893 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-29
Subject: Digital Transmitters
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: P. Velusamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1893

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2019)

## DIGITAL TRANSMITTERS

1893. SHRI VELUSAMY P.:

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

- (a) whether there is any proposal to strengthen digital transmitters for broadcast in border areas;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  any  action  is  proposed  for  cracking  down  on broadcast  of  unauthorised  channels  especially  in  border areas; and
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  further  enrich  the content of AIR broadcasts and make  them  useful  to listeners?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) & (b): Prasar  Bharati  has  informed  that  they  have  replaced outlived  19  AIR  MW  transmitters  by  Digital  MW  transmitters, which  also  provide  coverage  to  border  areas.    In  addition, Government has approved for replacement of 50 kW outlived SW transmitter by 50 kW Digital SW Transmitter at AIR, Kurseong. Further, a large number of AIR channels are available on DD Free Dish which also cover border areas of the country. In addition, AIR channels are also available on internet  and through 'NewsonAir'

app on android and iOS platform.

(c): Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 specify that no cable operator shall carry or include in his cable service any television broadcast  or  channel,  which  has  not  been  registered  by  the Central Government for being viewed within the territory of India. Ministry issues advisory to Multi System Operators (MSOs)/Local Cable Operators (LCOs) asking them not to transmit signals of unauthorized satellite TV channel on their cable network. Violation of guidelines invites action under provisions of the Cable Act/Rules. Also, all the District Magistrates/Collectors across the country, being Authorized Officers, are requested to follow time to time to ensure that no un-authorized TV Channels, are transmitted in their respective Districts by any cable operator in violation of Programme Code and provisions of Cable TV Act/Rules. (d): The content on AIR is designed with a view to make radio a means of interactive communication among the various agencies forming  a  composite  society.    The  longish  formats  have  been replaced  by  utility  messaging  system,  dissemination  of  themes through jingle, short duration musical items, live phone-inprogrammes, radio bridges, chat shows etc at proper punctuation points of Fixed Point Chart (FPC) to make the service rendered by AIR largely participatory. The content related with socio-economic realities of the service area are made into Outside Broadcasting (OB) based capsules for dissemination through terrestrial, satellite and internet modes. Content of AIR has been tailored in a manner that makes it a useful especially for the tribals, the rural population, the students and the tech-savvy etc.

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