Prasar Bharati's Hindi general entertainment channel DD National and its regional channels have seen tremendous growth in viewership. According to BARC data, DD National's viewership increased to 18.31 crore in 2019 while that of regional channels jumped to 19.33 crore in the same year.
"Prasar Bharati has subscribed the services of M/s Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), India for viewership data of Doordarshan (DD) channels. As per BARC data, viewership of DD National channels increased from 15.81 crore in 2018 to 18.31 crore in 2019, while that of DD Regional channels has increased from 15.78 crore in 2018 to 19.33 crore in 2019," Information & Broadcasting (I&B) minister Prakash Javadekar said in the Lok Sabha. He further stated that being a public broadcaster Doordarshan's programming is focused on issues of welfare of public viz. health, education, empowerment, social justice, etc. He also said that Prasar Bharati continuously endeavours to modernise the infrastructure and improve the quality of programmes. "Fund allocation to Prasar Bharati is based on the projected requirements, having regard to its action plan and strategies."
Javadekar noted that the Prasar Bharati has taken several measures to improve the quality of content including providing training to its Technical and Programming staff, capacity building of Content Producers, improving the quality of presentation, enhanced visibility on Social Media etc. "Prasar Bharati also takes continuous efforts towards improving the overall efficiency of employees through various institutional mechanisms including a) providing of training at National Academy of Broadcasting and Multimedia (NABM), Delhi and its 8 regional centres, b) training at Films and Television Institute of India (FTII), c) inculcating e- system of work through Public Finance Management System (PFMS), and, d) undertaking manpower audit and promotion of officers and staff as per laid down procedures."
In response to another question in the Lok Sabha, Javadekar said that Prasar Bharati has 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. Prasar Bharati, he said, is assessing the resources and manpower requirement for converting into 24×7 channel. Prasar Bharati, he further stated, has undertaken test transmission of converting DD North-East Channel into DD Assam channel from 01.12.2019. Expenses for the channel would be met out of the overall allocation relating to Prasar Bharati, he added.
In response to a question in Rajya Sabha over vacancies in Prasar Bharati, Javadekar said that the appointment of Chairman and Members of Prasar Bharati is done in accordance with the Prasar Bharati Act. It is the endeavour of the Government to fill up vacant posts as expeditiously as possible, he noted. "Appointment and promotion of officers and employees, arising of vacancies, filling up of vacancies in Prasar Bharati and its components viz. Akashvani & Doordarshan, is an ongoing process. In November 2019, 8029 posts in Doordarshan and 15072 posts in Akashvani were vacant throughout the country. The Central Government has notified the Rules for establishment of Prasar Bharati Recruitment Board," Javadekar said in his response.
He also stated that there is no proposal to dissolve Prasar Bharati.
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