The Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Ambika Soni answers some of the questions posed to her industry. Excerpts from the interview.

On digitization of Doordarshan

Digitization at Doordarshan is targeted to be completed by 2017. Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) has set aside Rs. 1209 crore of a total approved outlay of Rs. 1369 crores, just for digitization. The work will involve digitization of existing studios and setting up of transmitter, satellite broadcast equipment and HDTV facilities. Replacement and augmentation of old studios will also be conducted.

Doordarshan has exclusive rights to the terrestrial broadcasting spectrum in India. Digitization will free spectrum currently being used for analog transmission, allowing more channels. Extra spectrum could be used by Doordarshan for revenue generation.

On HDTV plans

Doordarshan is all set to broadcast the Commonwealth Games 2010 in high definition. Two HDTV studios are being established in Delhi and Mumbai, and field production and post production facilities in four metros. The HDTV uplink is being set up at Delhi, and HDTV terrestrial transmitters are being installed in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

On studio centers

According to the Eleventh Plan, 23 centers have already been digitized and 39 stations are in the process by 2012. The balance four analog studios will be part of the Twelfth Plan.

On digital terrestrial transmitters

All over India, 40 locations have been selected where analog transmitters are operational, for setting up of digital terrestrial transmitters. 14 obsolete high power TV transmitters and 60 lower power TV transmitters are being replaced

On downlinking guidelines for TV channels

Policy guidelines on downlinking of television channels have been framed and put in place. No person is allowed to downlink a channel, which has not been registered with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It is obligatory for all cable operators and multi service operators providing downlink satellite broadcasting services, downlinked from other countries to viewers in India to obtain permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

On uplinking guidelines for TV channels revised

Uplinking guidelines have been revised and a set of consolidated guidelines have been issued. It shall be incumbent on the owner company to obtain registration with the Ministry, separately for each channel. It is mandatory for the sports channel management companies with TV broadcasting rights to share their feed with Prasar Bharati for national and international sporting events declared by the Ministry. These shall include all matches featuring India and the semi finals and finals of international cricket events.

On ensuring quality of broadcast content

A draft Broadcast Content Regulatory Authority Bill is ready. The Bill aims at putting in place systems and mechanism to monitor TV channels and prescribe measures to deal with broadcasts which are not in tune with the Indian ethos. The Bill is expected in the Monsoon Session of Parliament and would ensure content regulation of TV programmes.

The sector is projected to grow between 13 to 19 percent in different fields of broadcasting till 2014. Despite downsizing of the economy in 2008-09, the broadcast sector had witnessed growth. All of us are sensitive to the word regulatory. However, we (the ministry) have been interactive and participative in the process.