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At a time when 50 educational channels are being planned, four existing ones — Gyan Darshan I & II, GD-3 and GD-4 - reaching out to lakhs of children in the country, went blank on the evening of June 4 after an uninterrupted run for nearly 14 years.
A meeting to deal with the crisis was held in the HRD ministry. Sources said Doordarshan officials suggested that the four channels be made part of the proposed 50 education channels of HRD ministry. Already, there is an MoU between HRD ministry and Prasar Bharati which says all clearances for these channels will be taken by Doordarshan. On the HRD side, officials raised apprehension that if these channels get out of Doordarshan bouquet, as it has been till they went blank, will it still reach lakhs of children free.
Problem on this front has been brewing for a year now. On June 2, department of space sent a final notice to HRD ministry that transponder on INSAT-3C which serviced the four channels will be switched off immediately because of the mandatory requirements of strategic user. The strategic user in this case is Indian Navy that wanted eastern beam of GSAT-7 since one of its major war vessels will be going to Central Pacific Ocean for a multilateral exercise.
Department of space's ultimatum did not come in a vaccum. In June last year, ISRO informed Indira Gandhi National Open University that it has shifted Gyan Darshan channels from INSAT-3C to GSAT-10 satellite. However, IGNOU was expected to take clearance from National Operations Control Centre (NOCC). Since then, department of space has been repeatedly writing to IGNOU quickly avail the transfer. When IGNOU approached NOCC, it was told that under the new licensing regime institutions and ministries cannot be given permission to run channels.
IGNOU was advised to get approval from Doordarshan that it is part of their bouquet. On its part, IGNOU claimed that ever since these channels started in 2000 they were under the umbrella of Doordarshan and had to carry its logo on the left hand side of the screen. In 2007 also, Gyan Darshan channels were part of eight channels that all DTH service providers had to mandatorily carry without any payment. However, Prasar Bharati sources say new licensing regime has to be honoured and old agreement cannot be cited. Anyway, IGNOU approached Doordarshan for cooperation in obtaining NOCC clearance.
Even as IGNOU was engaged in this battle, Doordarshan increased the carriage fee from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 4.5 crore. IGNOU had also defaulted on its previous payments. In March, Doordarshan asked IGNOU to clear the backlog since audit party had raised objections. IGNOU was told that if payment is not made by March 31 "it will not be possible for Prasar Bharti (Doordarshan) to recommend migration of Gyandarshan channels from INSAT-3C to GSAT-10 satellite.
Four DD education channels go off air due to pending fees - The Times of India
A meeting to deal with the crisis was held in the HRD ministry. Sources said Doordarshan officials suggested that the four channels be made part of the proposed 50 education channels of HRD ministry. Already, there is an MoU between HRD ministry and Prasar Bharati which says all clearances for these channels will be taken by Doordarshan. On the HRD side, officials raised apprehension that if these channels get out of Doordarshan bouquet, as it has been till they went blank, will it still reach lakhs of children free.
Problem on this front has been brewing for a year now. On June 2, department of space sent a final notice to HRD ministry that transponder on INSAT-3C which serviced the four channels will be switched off immediately because of the mandatory requirements of strategic user. The strategic user in this case is Indian Navy that wanted eastern beam of GSAT-7 since one of its major war vessels will be going to Central Pacific Ocean for a multilateral exercise.
Department of space's ultimatum did not come in a vaccum. In June last year, ISRO informed Indira Gandhi National Open University that it has shifted Gyan Darshan channels from INSAT-3C to GSAT-10 satellite. However, IGNOU was expected to take clearance from National Operations Control Centre (NOCC). Since then, department of space has been repeatedly writing to IGNOU quickly avail the transfer. When IGNOU approached NOCC, it was told that under the new licensing regime institutions and ministries cannot be given permission to run channels.
IGNOU was advised to get approval from Doordarshan that it is part of their bouquet. On its part, IGNOU claimed that ever since these channels started in 2000 they were under the umbrella of Doordarshan and had to carry its logo on the left hand side of the screen. In 2007 also, Gyan Darshan channels were part of eight channels that all DTH service providers had to mandatorily carry without any payment. However, Prasar Bharati sources say new licensing regime has to be honoured and old agreement cannot be cited. Anyway, IGNOU approached Doordarshan for cooperation in obtaining NOCC clearance.
Even as IGNOU was engaged in this battle, Doordarshan increased the carriage fee from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 4.5 crore. IGNOU had also defaulted on its previous payments. In March, Doordarshan asked IGNOU to clear the backlog since audit party had raised objections. IGNOU was told that if payment is not made by March 31 "it will not be possible for Prasar Bharti (Doordarshan) to recommend migration of Gyandarshan channels from INSAT-3C to GSAT-10 satellite.
Four DD education channels go off air due to pending fees - The Times of India
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