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24-hr Urdu news channel from Aug 15
THE MINISTRY of Information and Broadcasting is all set to launch a 24 -hour Urdu news channel from August 15. Besides, it will launch an international channel, DD International India, from New York in September.
THE MINISTRY of Information and Broadcasting is all set to launch a 24 -hour Urdu news channel from August 15. Besides, it will launch an international channel, DD International India, from New York in September.
This was stated by Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi here on Tuesday. He was in the city to launch the first AIR FM Rainbow.
Talking to newsmen, Dasmunshi said that a DD India International news and cultural channel would be launched from New York in September. It would be done to project the country before NRIs and the international community, he added.
Talking about the proposed Urdu channel, the minister stated that a 24 -hour Urdu news channel would be launched on August 15 to cater to the Urdu-speaking people of the country
Commenting on the much- talked-about Direct-to-Home (DTH) service, Dasmunshi said, “From December 2007, about two-third population of the country will avail the DTS services. Initially, the people will be able to watch more than 80 channels through DTH service at a very low cost,” the minister added.
Speaking about the steps being taken by the ministry for strengthening the Vernacular Press, Dasmunshi stated that small and medium newspapers would be strengthened.
“The government advertisement, rates of which are fixed by the Directorate of Audio Visual Publicity (DAVP), will also find place in large numbers in regional newspapers and magazines,” the minister said.
He said that under the Right to Information Act efforts were being made by the Union Government to ensure that the news reaches even to the remotest areas of the country. “The government will allot more advertisements to the small and medium newspapers to strengthen them,” minister said.
Work in this regard would start after August 15 and on October 2, the government policy would be finally implemented, the minister said. Replying to a query, the minister said, “Keeping in view the difficulties being faced in the registration of small and medium newspapers, the process will be decentralised.”
Commenting on the radio services in the country, Dasmunshi said, “Radio is still the cheapest mode of entertainment for majority of Indians.”
Transmitters would be installed in those areas of UP where radio signals were weak, he added.
