FM coverage, free Dish TV; government to overhaul broadcasting
Looks to improve broadcasting in interior and border areas with better content over two years
The government has earmarked about Rs.2,540 crore for upgradation of public broadcasting in both hardware and content under the “Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND)” scheme up to 2025-26.
The government said that FM coverage of AIR will increase to cover more than 80% of the country’s population vs the current 68%. Further, it will distribute eight lakh DD Free Dish DTH Set Top Boxes (DTBs) to people living in remote, tribal, Left Wing Extremism (LWE), border areas and aspirational districts.
For infrastructure development of Prasar Bharati (All India Radio or AIR and Doordarshan or DD), the Ministry of Broadcasting will provide financial support expansion and upgradation of broadcasting infrastructure, content development and related civil work.
Development of “high-quality” content for both domestic and international audience will be a priority, and Prasar Bharati will rope in people from different media fields in content production, something similar to the golden days of DD and AIR of the 1980s. This could potentially bring people in border areas closer and way from propaganda driven media of Pakistan and other people with vested interests.
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