DD is in talks with a host of Japanese companies to bring to India a technology that would help receive television signals on automobiles. The present systems in use does not allow reception of signals on moving vehicles.

"The move by Doordarshan to start the direct to home (DTH) and digital terrestrial transmission (DTT) has helped to start this service. We are looking at starting this service in the metros," director general of Doordarshan SY Qureshi said, while addressing a news conference here today.

A consumer willing to avail this service needs to invest about Rs 10, 000 to buy a receiver and an antenna, which would help him to receive digital signals. The antenna would be used to receive the signal, while the receiver or set top box would decode the signal and transmit it to television sets installed in the automobiles.

"We have come to know that some Japanese companies have the technology for this. We are starting negotiations with them to bring such a receiver to India," Qureshi said.

When asked about the market for such a service, he said, "We know that there is a niche market for such a service. But it would be an additional service that we would be able to provide them."

DD would be targeting car owners, bus services companies and railways as possible targets for such a service.

Qureshi also said that DD is finalising its business plan for the DTH service it has announced recently. "The final plans of the Rs 5-billion DTH service is under preparation. We want to cover the entire country with this service," he said.

Qureshi also said that Doordarshan is finalising its business plan for the DTH service it has announce recently. "The final plans of the Rs 500-crore (Rs 5 billion) DTH service is under preparation. We want to cover the entire country with this service," he said. According to him, the DTH service by DD would have about 20 channels, 10 Doordarshan and 10 free to air private channels in its bouquet to begin with. "But we intend to expand this to 40 channels in the long run," he said, adding that one of the reasons to opt for the DTH service was to free its distribution from cable operators.