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Prasar Bharati should go for DTH platform, cable TV arm: panel

Prasar Bharati should move quickly to create a DTH (direct-to-home TV) platform as also explore the feasibility of a strategic tie-up initially with MTNL to set up an independent cable TV arm, an expert committee has said.

The committee comprising infotech expert, N Narayanamurthy, marketing guru Shunu Sen and head of Discovery Channel India Kiran Karnik has made the recommendation in a report presented to information and broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley.

The committee, which went into the working of Doordarshan and All India Radio, has underlined the need for Prasar Bharati to quickly seize the opportunities thrown up by new technologies and the growing convergence between diverse technologies like telecommunications, broadcasting and information technology. It said Prasar Bharati should create a dth platform using appropriate Indian satellite.

In setting up a DTH platform, Prasar Bharati should evaluate whether it should develop this option on its own or through a joint venture. "In the interest of efficiency and because of its commercial nature, this should be independently managed and could be through a jointly funded company which should be set up with Prasar Bharati holding a controlling stake," it said.
Turning to cable television, the committee said though it was no longer a really "new" technology by itself, cable has become increasingly important as a means of delivering new services like interactive TV and Internet.

"As a public service broadcaster which should ultimately reach every home in India, Prasar Bharati cannot afford to neglect this important means of delivery", the committee said noting that cable TV today reaches over 30 million homes.

In such a scenario, it suggested that Prasar Bharati explore the feasibility of a strategic tie-up initially with MTNL and subsequently with Department of Telecommunication Services (DTS) to set up an independent cable arm making maximal use of the existing MTNL/DTS infrastructure and supplementing it wherever necessary.

However, the committee wanted Prasar Bharati to tread with caution on the issue and has, therefore, recommended that a beginning be made first in Mumbai and Delhi through MTNL, so that problems of convergence could be ironed out before proceeding to other locations.

"Such a tie-up can be expanded to cover delivery of Prasar Bharati’s radio, Internet and eventually television services via the MTNL/DTS," the panel has said.

The committee also had R. C. Mishra, Joint Secretary, Broadcasting, I & B Ministry, as a member and Rajeeva Ratna Shah, Chief Executive Officer, Prasar Bharati as a special invitee.

The panel wanted Prasar Bharati to be at the forefront of adopting and utilising these new technologies for furthering the objectives of public service broadcasting in a proactive and vigorous manner.

It said that Prasar Bharati must fully exploit the multiple-audio possibilities provided by new digital formats. "This will open up opportunities for simultaneous broadcasts in multiple languages, an initiative that would be of special significance in view of the country’s linguistic diversity."

Noting that Prasar Bharati has already begun to move towards digitalisation of its terrestrial network, the committee recommended that the 12-year time-frame set up for the purpose should be considerably shortened, given the rapid development in this field.

Besides, it wanted Doordarshan to immediately begin work on setting up a chain of digital transmitters, each of which should carry multiple television channels, beginning with six and quickly expanding to 12 or more.

The panel recommended Prasar Bharati to offer some of the channels on lease to other broadcasters so as to aid the viability of the digital transmission project and to ensure that there was no monopoly.

Prasar Bharati, the committee said, should undertake a study to evaluate the utility and viability of digital audio broadcasting direct from satellite in the Indian context.
The panel said that there should be a head of technology in Prasar Bharati, who should be assisted by a small team dedicated to exploring new technological opportunities on an ongoing basis.

"In order to quickly add and efficiently exploit the potential of new technologies, we recommend that Prasar Bharati implement projects in these areas by proactively pursuing partnerships and strategic tie-ups, preferably in a corporate structure", it said.

The committee said such an approach will have the additional advantage in receiving knowhow from the partners and ensuring that investments in new areas are based on a realistic business plan and financial viability.

PTI