DD earned net rev of Rs 1546.9 cr in the last three fiscals

Doordarshan, the TV broadcast arm of pubcaster Prasar Bharati, has earned net revenue of Rs 1546.9 crore in the last three financial years. The revenue amount excludes service tax and discount.

The public TV broadcaster earned Rs 516.3 crore for fiscal 2016. The revenue declined to Rs 505.11 crore in FY17. In FY18, the revenue increased to Rs 525.49 crore.

This information was provided by Information & Broadcasting (I&B) minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.

The minister stated that the revenue earned includes advertisements of Government Departments/ Ministries, which is shown under the head DCD (Development Communication Division) of Doordarshan.

He further stated that Doordarshan is presently operating 23 DD Channels on its network apart from Regional/Other Kendras having limited hours of transmission.

On the revamp plan for DD and All India Radio (AIR), Rathore said that the modernisation of DD and AIR is a continuous process and schemes in this regard are formulated and implemented from time to time.

Modernisation plan, he added, covers a broad spectrum, which, inter alia, includes digitalisation; adoption of new technologies at par with International standards; replacement of old/outlived equipments and up-gradation.

Rathore also informed that the Expenditure Finance Committee has recommended an outlay of Rs. 1054.52 crore for three years (2017-18, 2018-19 & 2019-20) for Prasar Bharati (AIR/DD).

The same has been processed for approval of Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA). An amount of Rs. 326.74 crore has been earmarked for various components of Prasar Bharati’s scheme which include modernization and upgradation of infrastructure, for the current financial year.