Lok Sabha Question No. 2048 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: Fall in Viewership of National Broadcasting Organisations
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri T R Baalu

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2048

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026)

FALL IN VIEWERSHIP OF NATIONAL BROADCASTING ORGANISATIONS 2048. SHRI T R BAALU:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the viewership of National broadcasting organisations both television and radio has fallen sharply as the private channels are far ahead in terms of quality and popularity;
- (b)  if  not,  the  details  of  the  number  of  viewership,  earnings  and profitability during the last five years of Doordarshan and All India Radio vis-a-vis private television and radio channels; and
- (c) the details of budgetary support provided to national broadcasting organisations during the last five years and the purpose for which it was given served?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

(DR. L. MURUGAN)

(a) to (c): Prasar Bharati functions as the country's Public Broadcaster, as mandated under Section 12 of the Prasar Bharati Act. In accordance with this  statutory  role,  it  operates  as  a  public  service  broadcaster, primarily  undertaking  pro  bono  and  public  interest  broadcasting activities. These include providing broadcast coverage to rural, tribal, underdeveloped,  border,  and  Left  Wing  Extremism  (LWE)-affected areas,  as  well  as  other  strategically  significant  regions  that  remain underserved  due  to  the  lack  of  commercial  viability  for  private broadcasters.  Prasar  Bharati  operates  with  a  'Nation  First'  ethos, prioritizing public service over commercial gains.

The Government of India supports through a Central Sector Scheme 'Broadcasting  Infrastructure  and  Network  Development  (BIND)'  for development, modernization and upgradation of broadcasting infrastructure for Prasar Bharati, including that of All India Radio (AIR). Outlay for this scheme is Rs. 2539.61 crore for the years 2021-26. During the last five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25, the total budgetary support provided to Prasar Bharati was approximately ₹ 14,421 crore, which includes  expenditure  towards  salaries  of  Government  employees  on deemed deputation to Prasar Bharati, as well as allocations under the

BIND Scheme.

As  per  the  Gross  Unique  Viewership  estimates  provided  by  M/s Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), the subscribed Doordarshan channels recorded a cumulative viewership of 372.8 crore from 2021 till January 2026. Akashvani and Doordarshan channels are continuously  enhanced  through  sustained  improvements  in  content quality,  regular  audience feedback, and the introduction of new and engaging programme formats.

Some of the new-age initiatives undertaken by Prasar Bharati include -

-  Prasar Bharati's OTT platform 'WAVES" launched in 2024
- o Multi-genre  digital  streaming  aggregator  platform  providing infotainment content in multiple Indian Languages
- o Various channels of Doordarshan and AIR network are integrated into this platform
- DD Free Dish (Free-to-Air Direct-To-Home)
- o Grown significantly from 104 channels in 2019 to 510 channels
- now
- o Includes  private  and  educational  TV  channels,  besides  the
- Doordarshan channels.
- o 48 Akashvani radio channels
-  NewsOnAir App
- o More than 260 live radio channels of Akashvani.

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