| Quoting figures provided by Prasar Bharati, information
and broadcasting minister Jaipal Reddy today informed the Lok Sabha
(Lower House of Parliament) that in 2002-03 Prasar Bharati's expenditure
on sporting events was approximately Rs 630 million, while the revenue
generated was over Rs 1.5 billion. During 2003-04 while Rs 670 million
was spent on telecast rights, etc, revenue earned amounted to over
Rs 1,300 million.
Reddy did not clarify whether the amount mentioned for 2004 also
included the Rs 500 million deposited with Supreme Court in the
wake of a legal controversy involving Doordarshan and Ten Sports
over the telecast of cricket matches during the Indo-Pakistan series
played in Pakistan.
Reddy also informed fellow parliamentarians that DD, being a public
service broadcaster, did not operate a profit and loss account.
In reply to another question relating to Prasar Bharati, Reddy
has clarified that the organisation was "not facing shortage
of funds due to its expansion" activities, but was under a
financial burden due to "additional liabilities on account
of payment of various taxes and levies imposed on it."
(Reddy is lobbying with the finance ministry for exempting Prasar
Bharati from paying various taxes as it has been registered as a
trust doing work for the benefit of public at large. The tax sops,
if they come through, would include largely income tax.)
While denying that DD's revenue model has been badly hit, the I&B
minister also said that the pubcaster has earned Rs. 930 million
in the first quarter of this financial year (April - June), compared
to Rs 480 million clocked for the corresponding period previous
year.
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