| NEW
DELHI: Prasar Bharati posted a net commercial revenue of Rs 10 billion for the
fiscal ended 31 March 2009 while expenditure stood at Rs 23.44 billion, leaving
a yawning uncovered gap of Rs 13.43 billion. Sources
say Prasar Bharati, in addition, has an unpaid liability of Rs 10.71 billion as
spectrum and space segment fee. The
load on Prasar Bharati has increased as it faces pressure on its revenues from
private TV channels and FM radio broadcasters. Doordarshan's
gap between revenue and expenditure is widening. The pubcaster had clocked a revenue
of Rs 7.37 billion in 2008-09, rising marginally from Rs 7.24 billion in the prior
year, while expenditure increased to Rs 13.57 billion from Rs 10.52 billion in
FY'08. The
deficit is even worse for All India Radio (AIR) which has posted a net commercial
revenue of Rs 1.94 billion for 2008-09 'on an expenditure of Rs 9.87 billion.
Revenue
for AIR, in fact, was higher at Rs 2.03 billion in FY'08 while expenses stood
at Rs 9.79 billion.
A
matter of concern has been the progressive decline in revenues
from sporting events. "The revenue from live telecast
of cricket events is hardly enough to overcome the opportunity
costs since Prasar Bharati has lost the exclusive rights from
the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for telecast
of international matches played in India," says a source
in the Information and Broadcasting ministry.
Also
Read : Private
FM broadcasters drag down AIR's revenues
After two falls, DD ups revenue to Rs 7.4 billion | 
