"Production facilities are being fully digitalized and steps are being taken by the broadcasters to move towards tape-less environment in studios, says Dhruba Ray."

On Doordarshan's performance during 2007 and annual targets for 2008-09

Major achievements of Doordarshan during 2007 have been as under:

Mobile TV

TV transmission to hand held (mobile phones) using DVB-H standard has been started in New Delhi w.e.f. May, 2007. Programs of 8 Doordarshan channels viz. DD National, DD News, DD Bharati, DD Sports, DD Bangla, DD Punjabi, DD Podighai and DD Urdu are being transmitted and these can be received on DVB-H enabled mobile phones within a range of about 10-12 kms from the transmitter, which is installed in Akashwani Bhawan at Parliament Street. Doordarshan plans to increase number of channels from the present 8 to 16. Proposal in this regard has already been approved and further action regarding procurement of requisite equipment is being taken. India is one of the few select countries, which have started mobile TV service.

HDTV (High Definition Television)

Doordarshan has taken up a pilot project of HDTV at Delhi. This pilot project envisages HDTV production facility in terms of establishment of multi camera EFP (Electronic Field Production) van besides compatible post production facility. This pilot project is targeted to be completed by 2009.

New Studios

Two new studios commissioned at Calicut and Rajouri, besides a small studio inside the Sectt. building at Shillong for recordings. In addition, 6 major studios were fully digitalized and 10 smaller studios partially digitalized.

Special package for NE States & Island territories (Phase II)

Implementation of various schemes, approved as part of the Special Package in May 2006, is in progress and the schemes are at different stages of implementation. The projects included in the above package are expected to be completed in phases by end of 2008-09. Permanent HPT set up at Kokrajhar (Assam) is expected to be completed during the later half of 2009. Approved cost of the aforesaid Special Package is Rs. 256.85 crore (hardware - 134.43, software - 122.55).

Special Package (Phase II) for improvement of DD and AIR services in J&K

Special Package (Phase II) for improvement of DD and AIR services in J&K has been approved at an outlay of Rs. 299.87 crore (DD - 294.17; AIR-5.7}. Major component of Doordarshan is for the software schemes (Rs. 267.7 crore). The amount approved under capital for hardware schemes is Rs.19.875 crores,

Terrestrial coverage

For expansion of terrestrial coverage, HPTs at Hissar (DD1 and DD News), Bikaner, Kokrajhar (int.), Bhatinda (DD News) and Kurseong (DD News) commissioned, besides upgradation of interim HPTs at Balurghat, Kupwara and Jalgaon to permanent setups.

Auto mode LPTs

Old 100 W LPTs at 30 locations replaced by 500 W auto mode LPTs (1+1 configuration).

Auto switching facility at VLPTs in A & N Islands

VLPTs in the union territory of A&N Islands were hitherto relaying program fed from Delhi throughout the entire duration of their transmission. Auto switching facility, developed in-house by R&D unit, has been provided at 10 VLPTs viz. Hutbay, Baratang, Mayabunder, Rangat, Diglipur, Kalighat, Swarajgram, Nancowry, Katchal and Havelock, and this has enabled these VLPTs to relay regional service program fed from the capital station i.e. DDK, Port Blair during the allocated time slot for the purpose.

Targets for 2008-09

Major projects targeted for completion during 2008-09 are given below:

• Additional Studios at Jammu and Panaji

• HPTs (pmt. set up) at Amritsar (DD1 and News), Kumbakonam, Cannanore, Kharagpur, Saharsa

• Auto mode LPTs (in replacement of existing LPTs) at 100 places

• VLPTs at 25 places in A&N and Lakshadweep Islands

• C-band DTH for A&N Islands

• Upgradation of Earth stations at Guwahati (for 2 NE channels) and Jammu

• HDTV pilot project at Delhi

On the procurement of equipment in 2008 and the total budget allocated for the procurement of the equipment

Annual Plan for 2008-09 is yet to be finalized. However, the various equipment envisaged to be procured during 2008-09 are : digital cameras; digital VCRs; digital switchers; non linear editing system; HDTV field production equipment; digital ENG cameras; post production equipment; digital transmitters; DSNG units; digital microwave links; satellite earth station equipment etc.

On the prevailing trends in the Indian broadcasting industry

Information & Communication technologies have taken a big leap forward and the distinction between broadcasting, telecommunications and multi-media services is disappearing very fast. Convergence is coming not only in technology but also in carriage infrastructure and receive equipment.

World over broadcasters are going for digitalization of terrestrial transmission. Production facilities are being fully digitalized and steps are being taken by the broadcasters to move towards tape-less environment in Studios. Broadcasters are also taking steps for program production in HDTV format and also for transmission of HDTV program through satellite as well as terrestrial transmitters. Coverage of major sports events are taking place in HDTV format. Mobile TV service is also being started by various broadcasters. Broadcasters in India are also moving in the above direction.

On Prasar Bharati's role in the coverage of Commonwealth Games

Prasar Bharati has been appointed the host broadcaster for XIX Commonwealth Games to be held at Delhi in 2010 as well as for III Commonwealth Youth Games to be held at Pune in 2008. There would be total 17 sports events besides Opening and Closing ceremonies spread over 12 venues for Delhi 2010 Games. First time in the history of Commonwealth Games, the entire coverage of the Games would be on HDTV (1080i/50) format. Coverage of the Games would be as per the best international standards. Best possible production teams from across the globe would be engaged for coverage of various sports events.

The International Broadcast Centre (IBC) would be set up at ITPO, Pragati Maidan in an area of around 8,500 sqm.

For Pune 2008 Games, there are total nine sports events besides Opening and Closing ceremonies within the same Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune. The Games will be held at Pune from 12^th October to 18^th October 2008. Entire coverage would be on SDTV (PAL 625/50). Best possible production teams would be derived from across the globe for coverage of various sports events for the Games. The task of formulation and submission of Strategy Plan, Time-line and Deliverables, and EFC proposals for funds has been completed. The initial execution plan is also ready.

On the DTH services of Doordarshan

Doordarshan's free to air DTH service "DD Direct Plus" with a bouquet of 33 TV channels was launched on 16^th December, 2004. DTH signals can be received anywhere in the country (except A&N Islands) with the help of small sized dish receive units.

Initially, DTH transmission was through NSS-6 satellite. Now, DTH transmission has been shifted to INSAT-4B satellite.

For demonstration purpose, Doordarshan has provided about 10,000 dish receive system to public institutions viz. Anganwaadis, Schools, public health centers, Panchayats, youth clubs, cooperative societies in uncovered areas of certain selected states where TV coverage is less than the national average. As part of special package for NE and J&K, 25000 DTH sets along with TV sets are being provided in the uncovered areas of NE states and 10000 such sets in J&K. In addition, 20000 DTH receive units are being provided in Himachal Pradesh. Installation of these sets would be carried out by the state authorities.

Capacity of DTH centre has been increased for transmission of 50 TV channels. Scheme for further increasing the capacity for transmission of 59 TV channels has been sanctioned and action for procurement of requisite equipment is in process. Presently, there are 39 TV channels on DTH platform.

Number of TV channels during 11^th Plan is planned to be further increased to 200. Value added service like interactivity through return channel; video on demand and automatic insertion of advertisements in DTH service are also planned.

Anything else you may like to add

Doordarshan today

• Satellite channels - 30

• Studio centres - 66 (major - 17, smaller - 49)

• Transmitters - 1397 (HPTs-209, LPTs-819, VLPTs-369)

• Terrestrial coverage

• DD1 : Population - 91.7 percent, Area - 80 percent

• DD News : Population - 49.1 percent, Area - 25.5 percent

Free to air DTH service "DD Direct Plus"

HDTV

HDTV is a technology that offers numerous advantages in terms of excellent image quality and wide screen image. The wide screen image provides powerful viewing experience. The HDTV image has five times more visual information than a conventional TV picture. This makes this technology superior and gives pictures similar to 35 mm films. HDTV also provides realistic digital surround sound. HDTV production and transmission has commenced in a big way in several countries viz. Japan, USA, Germany, Australia and some other countries including certain Gulf countries. Establishment of HDTV facilities would be essential in view of Commonwealth Games to be held at Delhi in 2010. Doordarshan has taken up a pilot project of HDTV at Delhi costing about Rs. 15 crore. Under this pilot project, facility for outdoor production in HDTV is planned to be set up at Delhi. During 11^th Plan, Doordarshan proposes to set up HDTV studios in the metro cities of Delhi and Mumbai. Two HDTV channels are planned to be put up on DTH platform also.

Special package for North East and Island territories

A Special package for expansion and improvement of Doordarshan services in NE states and Island territories of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep involving an outlay of Rs. 256.85 crore (hardware - Rs. 134.3 crore, software - 122.55 crore) was approved by the Government in 2006 and its implementation is in progress. Various schemes included in the package are as under:

News automation

Integrated news automation system has been provided in DD Bhawan - Ph.II (Studio complex). This system provides complete automation of production, play out and storage in an integrated environment for round the clock News Channel. It is possible to carry out the various activities such as story recording, script and video editing, graphics preparation, archive retrieval, storage and news rundowns etc. parallelly by seamless integration of video servers, non linear editing suites, character generators, transmission devices and host of other broadcast equipment.

The above system has 75 work stations for journalists and a dedicated transmission server for play out and eight numbers of craft editing systems. The system has been installed and is under test.

The various schemes included in the special package are expected to be completed, in phases, by 2009.