Date:22/10/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/10/22/stories/2004102202422100.htm

Back Prasar Bharati to have more `narrow casting' centres

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , Oct. 21

PRASAR Bharati is planning to extend the coverage of `narrow casting' to 18 more centres, taking the tally to 30 soon.

Through `narrow casting' Doordarshan is airing programmes on agriculture and allied subjects from 12 LPT (Low Power Transmission centres) across the country.

"In Andhra Pradesh, DD is telecasting such programmes to the target viewers in Amalapuram and Vijayawada," Mr D. Prasad Rao, Doordarshan Kendra (Hyderabad) Director, has said.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, he said discussions were on to expand the limited area telecasting for the benefit of more farmers.

He said the Hyderabad centre had completed 27 years. Marking the 28th anniversary the centre would organise Formation Day on Saturday. The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and the Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati, Mr K.S. Sarma, would participate in that event.

Mr Prasada Rao said the Hyderabad DD centre could reach 4.58 crore viewers in the State and one crore more outside. Talking on the performance of the centre, he said it won 40 Nandi awards so far.

With regard to DTH (Direct-To-Home), he said DD's Saptagiri had been put on the DD Direct platform. "DTH will allow people to see 30 television channels and listen to a large number of radio channels," he said.