India: Doordarshan and All India Radio to be digitalized

Submitted by Sarika Valecha on Fri, 04/09/2010 - 17:20

The state run TV network Doordarshan and All India Radio will be digitized under the new plans from the government in order to enable them face up to the competition from private companies.

The plan worth Rs 1,540 crore has received approval from the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure on Thursday. The proposal submitted by the Ministry of Broadcasting under the 11th Plan involved digitalization of transmitters, studio connectivity and network for Doordarshan and All India Radio.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said "This process of digitalisation of both Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) will enable the most vulnerable section of our people in the remotest of the remote areas to receive higher quality of AIR and Doordarshan signals."

Out of the total Rs1,540 crore approved, Rs 620 crore will be for DD and the remaining Rs 920 crore will be used up for AIR.

Soni further said that the digitalization programme would allow viewers to have unto 10 channels from existing eight and also they will be able to experience high definition TV. The upcoming reform and opening up of frequencies in FM has increased competition to AIR services.

The FM III policy would see FM channels catering to towns where the population is as small as 1 lakh. The MW transmitters used by AIR will be replaced by digital transmitters along with the digitalization of studio.

As for Doordarshan it will receive 40 digital terrestrial transmitters and it will networked through a satellite. Its archiving facilities will also be digitalized and other up gradations like news room automation system.

Source: http://bit.ly/ch94qB

Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia