NEW DELHI: A separate 24-hour news channel on All India Radio is under final stages of consideration by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Confirming this, I & B Secretary Uday Kumar Varma also said that the Ministry was considering a proposal from Prasar Bharati to bifurcate the DD News channels into separate Hindi and English news channels.

At a meeting with heads of various Punjab-based media units in Amritsar yesterday, Varma had said: "The Centre is exploring various aspects and technicalities involved in launching a 24-hour news channel on AIR."

Varma reviewed the existing status of AIR and Doordarshan Kendra (DDK) transmission in border areas and discussed the progress of digitalisation of AIR and DDK.

He directed the DD authorities to explore the possibility of introducing a toll free number on which viewers cutting across national borders could directly voice their opinion.

Reacting to media reports on monopoly by certain private cable TV operators, Varma said the matter have already been referred to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

Earlier this year, DD News Director General S M Khan told indiantelevision.com that he was confident of achieving this target of July. For separate English and Hindi news channels.

He had said that the pubcaster had conducted a survey which showed that viewers favoured separate channels for the two languages.

He was also confident that even after bifurcation both DD Samachar and DD News will continue to get adequate advertisement support.

Khan said that the two channels would pool news and work in unison with each other. Some new programmes were being devised as both channels would now get more available time.

DD News saw a change in news presentation with new presenters and a lighter format from the beginning of this year.

NEW DELHI: Even as Prasar Bharati is claimed to be an autonomous body, Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari today made it clear that the government cannot be expected to maintain "an arm?s length" when it foots the bills for the pubcaster.

The minister was responding to criticism by Prasar Bharati Board chairperson Mrinal Pande who spoke of ?intricate circles of bureaucratic power? surrounding the institution.

Both were speaking at the inaugural session of a meeting of a recently-constituted Expert Committee to review PB?s functioning headed by the Prime Minister?s advisor on Public Information Infrastructure Sam Pitroda.

Tewari said the key issue was whether India needed a public broadcaster, and its relationship with the government.

"Two-thirds of the I and B ministry?s budget ? Rs 18.85 billion out of Rs 28 billion ? goes to Prasar Bharati. I am the recruiting authority, the disciplinary authority, the sanctioning authority. Yet, I am supposed to have arm?s length. I am not God," he It needs to be noted here that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had in December stated that the government should further strengthen the arm?s length relationship between the public broadcaster Prasar Bharti and the central government.

While submitting its recommendations on "Issues related to entry of government or government entities into the business of broadcasting and/or distribution of TV channels" Trai had said that measures should ensure functional independence and autonomy of Prasar Bharti.

The option was to follow the ?Comptroller and Auditor General-Finance Ministry? model if the vote was in favour of having a public service broadcaster, the minister said. "If you want to take it out of the government?s ambit, PB can be directly accountable to Parliament. This will then allow me to have another full spectrum communication agency which puts the government?s viewpoint in the public space. Communication is a part of the development remit."

Tewari emphasised that for any change to be ?sustainable?, reforms had to be ?incremental and gradual? so that it could deal with the resistance within the system. But Mr Pitroda said he believed in ?disruptive approach and generational change?. "If it is not disruptive, it is not worth doing."

Earlier, Pande had rejected the proposition of remaking AIR and DD as government departments as ?rubbish?.

She asked the Expert Committee to focus on programming issues, where the problem was a ?dual control system?, with the government retaining ?final regulatory powers? on a range of issues. "Committed professionals and innovative artistes are replaced by grim men and women behind desks who tell us not how change can happen, but why it must not."

She also highlighted the ?systemic mis-alignments? in the ?hastily crafted? PB Act 2000, where the government picks the top three members of the PB executive, even though the Board is supposed to be supervising and managing the corporation?s affairs. Much to its ?embarrassment?, the Board learnt of certain PB-related issues from the next day?s newspapers, she added. She spoke of met hardware needs that were not being met.

NEW DELHI: Doordarshan is to telecast an hour-long film documentary on 21 and 22 March to mark the centenary year of Bihar.

?Bihar Shatak?, produced by Doordarshan late last year which marked the centenary year of the state, will be telecast on DD National at 9 am on both days to mark Bihar Divas.

The film showcases the journey of Bihar from ancient to contemporary times. It documents how Bihar has a legacy of 3000 years and was once a synonym of India when religion, politics, social change, economy, culture, education and knowledge were prospering in ancient Bihar. The film presents a bird?s eye view of all that makes Bihar unique.

It proceeds to show how political exigencies over the years eclipsed it into backwardness. Mostly in the news for wrong reasons in the past few decades, it was pushed into oblivion but could not be obliterated. The film shows how resurgence has begun, despite all odds and how people are shedding their age old complacency, redefining the people?s identity of Bihar. The film documents the struggle of a frontrunner becoming a non- performer, trying to become a forerunner once again.

It takes the viewers on a stupendous journey of change and development sweeping Bihar. Bihar has recorded an impressive growth of 11.95 per cent - the highest amongst all States during the 11th Plan. Regaining its lost status considerably today, the film highlights how its growth story is poised to bring back Bihar on the centre stage.
 
The film has been shot extensively from Bodhgaya to Buxar and from Nirmali to Nalanda. Cross sections of people have also been interviewed to reveal the diverse ethos of Bihar, which is propelling it towards its place in the Sun once again.

The film gives hope to the common man of Bihar who are marginalised. To the upscale Bihar lovers, the film provides a visual treat into this culturally rich state.

NEW DELHI: Doordarshan spent a sum of Rs 3.9 million on its New Year?s eve programme ?Dhoom 2013?, aimed at honouring the vamp as a tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema.

The telecast of the programme had been put off in view of the demise of the gang rape victim in Delhi, but was later telecast on 13 January.

Parliament was informed that of the total amount, Rs two million was paid to the artistes while the rest was for infrastructure including set, light, audio, venue hiring, decoration etc.

The pubcaster claimed that the programme recorded good viewership rating, as reflected in the Television Audience Measurement (TAM).

This included All India Market: 0.98 among (All 4+years) viewers.

ii) Market (Hindi Speaking Market): 1.02 (All 4+years) viewers.

iii) Hindi Speaking Market in Non Cable & Satellite: 11.84 iv) All India 2013 in Non Cable
Satellite: 13.43

Produced by Mumbai Doordarshan, it showcased the lost vamps of the Indian Cinema.

With Choreography and performance from Madhushree, Rekha Vishal Bharadwaj, Kavita Seth, Mamta Sharma, Tochi Raina, Vikas Bhalla, Ritu Phatak and Sanjivani Belande, the programme took the viewer back in to the glorious world of the vamps of Indian Cinema.

The scripting of the show was done by Deepti Mishra (of Tanu Weds Manu fame). Manini Mishra and Raju Nigam compered the programme. The voice over for the specially created AV for Dhoom 2013 had been done by Arvind Mehra.

The sets had been designed by Johnny Lever Company. The programme was supported by Johnny Lever and the cine star Jeetendra.

Dhoom 2013 felicitate the vamps of yesteryears - Bindu, Helen, Aruna Irani, Jayashree T, Padma Khanna and others.

Dhoom 2013 was conceived and designed by the Additional Director General of Mumbai Doordarshan, Mukesh Sharma.