Karnataka govt to start new tv channel (tentative name Gram swaraj)

[Shashank]

Bengaluru: The state government plans to have its own bilingual (English and Kannada) television channel to broadcast developmental programmes related to the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj by December this year.

Tentatively named the ‘Gram Swaraj’ channel, it has received the thumbs up from the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj ministry, which has sent it to the Finance Department for clearance. “As private television channels are not interested in development stories, the department has decided to start a channel of its own to highlight them, after consultation with the heads of various media houses. The channel will be on the lines of the Chandana, a Kannada channel owned by Prasar Bharati,” said official sources, adding that the project could cost around Rs 10 crore to execute. A private consultant firm, which has reportedly been engaged for the launch of the channel, is expected to help with the setting up of studios and other groundwork.

The proposal is now pending before the finance department. Once it is approved , it will be tabled in the Cabinet for ratification. Our endeavor is to start the new bi-lingual channel before the end of the current year," sources added.

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[Shashank]

MYSURU: With the state assembly election round the corner, the state Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department (RDPR) all set to launch a new Kannada information channel exclusively dedicated to promote various government schemes and welfare programmes. This channel will have its uplink and down link centers in the Mysuru city beside state of the art studio and editorial offices. The proposal has been sent to the state Finance Department (FD) for the final approval.

"The proposed channel expected to come up before December this year keeping in mind next year's state assembly election. As infrastructure is readily available in ANSSIRD & PR, it is not a difficult task," he said.

Programmes: speaking to this newspaper, a senior officer from the RDPR informed that as per the proposal, this channel will be developed in line with Loksabha and Rajya Sabha TV channels. "One of the concerns of the state government is that most of its projects, welfare schemes lack publicity. This channel will be dedicated to take all the information related to new government schemes, initiatives, projects to the living room of the general public," explained a senior officer.

Programmes: according to the sources, initially RDPR is planning to utilise the STCOM center at ANSSIRD & PR to produce programmes. This center has been set up by the state government with technical assistance and support from ISRO. "Through this STCOM center, ANSSIRD & PR is producing programmes for various stake holders. Now RDPR wants to expand the reach of these programmes and reach out every house hold in the state through cable and Direct To Home (DTH)," informed a senior officer.

Karnataka RDPR department to launch Kannada channel - Times of India