Prasar Bharati awaits Centre's nod to raise funds

Prasar Bharati is expecting the Centre's nod within a year to raise funds for its expansion plans.

Addressing mediapersons here on Tuesday, Prasar Bharati CEO K S Sarma said that the public service broadcaster had decided to digitalise the entire Doordarshan network for which it requires around Rs 2,000 crore.

"We have requested the government to allow us to raise funds by way of public issue, borrowings from financial institutions or joint ventures with private partners. The Centre has set up a 12-member group of ministers under the chairmanship of home minister Shivraj Patil to take a final decision on our suggestions. We expect a positive decision within a year," he said.

At present, Prasar Bharati's expenditure, Sarma said, was around Rs 2,000 crore a year, of which close to Rs 1,250 crore was generated through advertisements. "We are relying on the government budget for the remaining funds. In order to reduce our dependence on government funding, we are planning to mobilise funds through different ways," he added.

Prasar Bharati garnered around Rs 1,250 crore in 2005-06, and is aiming at achieving Rs 1,500 crore ad revenue this year. "Apart from this, we are expecting additional revenues from telecast of DD programmes in foreign countries," he said.

At present, Prasar Bharati operates 15 FM radio stations across the country including one at Vizag. By the end of the current fiscal, it was targeting to add 25 more FM stations in the country, he added.

According to him, the Doordarshan currently has 60 Programme Generation Facility centres (PGFCs) across the country. By the end of the 11th Plan period, Prasar Bharati would be adding another 22 PGFCs at an investment of around Rs 10 crore each.