E-Paper
DD to increase free-to-air DTH channels to 50
Govt to increase number of channels on Doordarshan's free-to-air DTH service to 50 from 33 during the fiscal 2006-07.
Government said on Thursday that it envisaged to increase the number of television channels on Doordarshan's free-to-air direct to home (DTH) service to 50 from the current 33 during the fiscal 2006-07.
In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi said the number of TV channels on free-to-air DTH service of Doordarshan 'DD Direct Plus' is envisaged to be increased from the present 33 to 50 during the year 2006-07.
To another query, the minister said Doordarshan had approached the Bureau of Indian Standards to lay down standards and technical norms for set top boxes for the free-to-air DTH service, as it has been done for the reception of pay DTH service.
Replying to another question, Dasmunsi said Prasar Bharti had informd that the outstanding dues that AIR and DD to be recovered from various ministries and departments of the Centre were Rs 17.14 crore and Rs 3.25 crore respectively.
The matter was being pursued with the Ministries concrened for recovery of the above amounts by Prasar Bharti, he added.
Dasmunsi, replying to another question, said while a majority of transmitters installed during the 10th Plan had been operationalised, 53 transmitters could not be made fully operational due to "non-availability of complement of staff for operational and maintenance purposes".
These, however, have been commissioned through redeployment of staff and are currently in operation for limited duration. Efforts were bing made to secure the required staff expeditiously, he added.
