Doordarshan uses DTH to reach far areas

Doordarshan has started using direct to home (DTH) technology with KU band broadcasting to reach areas in Saurashtra that do not get DD signals in the normal form.

"Areas such as Junagadh, Jamnagar, Porbandar district, where the telecast of Doordarshan is not receivable at present, will now get it by the DTH technology," Arvind Marchant, station director, Doordarshan Kendra Rajkot, said. "Schools and other local bodies have been equipped with dishes and set-top boxes by Prasar Bharti," he added.

Doordarshan (Gujarat) has appointed Modern Communication and Broadcast System at Gandhinagar as the producer and distributor of dishes and set-top boxes.

"For the set-top box and dish of different sizes in 60, 90 and 120 centimeter, a viewer has to spend Rs 3000 to Rs 4500. There will be no rent or installation charges," Merchant said.

The services by Doordarshan will end the monopoly of cable operators in these areas. The DD signals will reach homes directly, without the involvement of a cable operator. As of now, around 20 channels can be viewed.

"The telecast quality of this DTH service through KU Band and C band is very good. To raise the viewership of Doordarshan from 86 per cent of the population to 100 per cent, Prasar Bharti has allotted Rs 300 crore," Marchant added.

"We have installed 120 DTH sets in Saurashtra where Doordarshan telecast is not easily receivable. District wise, we have allotted 15 DTH sets in Surendranagar, 25 in Porbandar and 40 each in Jamnagar and Junagadh. Eight sets are to be installed soon in Rajkot district," Atulbhai Shah, installing engineer, Doordarshan Kendra, Rajkot, said.

Direct-to-home satellite television is becoming a buzzword in the satellite broadcast industry due to the fact that it offers immense opportunities to both broadcasters and viewers.