Prasar Bharati assessing resources for converting limited hours DD channels into a 24*7 channel, says I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar

Public service broadcaster Prasar Bharati is assessing the resources for converting limited hours DD channels into 24*7 channel, Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

In reply to a question in Lok Sabha regarding the Government’s plan to transform the existing Doordarshan channels of DDK Aizawl, Kohima, Imphal, Gangtok, Agartala, and Shillong into 24×7 DD Regional channels, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said that Prasar Bharati is assessing the resources and manpower requirement for converting into a 24×7 channel.

Prasar Bharati had placed limited hours DD channels originating from Aizawl, Kohima, Imphal, Agartala and Shillong on DD FreeDish, a free to air DTH platform of Prasar Bharati w.e.f. March 2019.

Responding to another question regarding the trial run of 24×7 DD Assam, Javadekar said that the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati had undertaken the test transmission of converting DD North East channel into DD Assam channel from 1st December 2019.

Regarding the budget allocation for the DD Assam channel, Javdekar said that the expenses for the channel would be met out of the overall allocation relating to Prasar Bharati.