I&B Ministry
Borderless world in context of changing communication paradigm, says Rathore
New Delhi: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore today said the global community was living in a borderless world in view of the changing communication paradigm. The advent of internet, online news, social media and satellite communication had completely overhauled the communication and information space.
Delivering his address at the 65th convocation ceremony of Diploma Course in Development Journalism at the Indian Institute of Mass Communications here, he said communication had been a critical component of the governments outreach strategy through people centric initiatives and innovative approaches.
Citing the example of Mann ki Baat broadcasts and My Gov Portal, the Minister said that innovative use of such two way communication platforms had helped government solicit the views from people for better Governance and to also understand their communication needs and perspective.
Earlier, Col. Rathore interacted with Indian Information Service officer trainees currently undergoing training at IIMC. He urged them to develop skills, aptitude and understanding of media landscape in taking forward the Government communication roadmap.
He also launched the social media platforms of IIMC and a memento as a part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Institute which was established in 1965.
The Development Journalism Course at IIMC was an endeavour towards promoting international cooperation and understanding, especially among countries of the Developing World, through the exchange of experience, expertise and innovations in the field of harnessing communication as a tool of development.
IIMC conducts a specific course on development journalism for media personnel from developing countries, sponsored by the External Affairs ministry.
I&B Ministry
Prasar Bharati sets EPG standards for DD Free Dish platform
New specs define 7-day guide, LCN mapping, and device compatibility.
MUMBAI: Your TV guide just got a backstage pass structured, scheduled, and far more in sync. Prasar Bharati has released detailed technical specifications for Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) services on DD Free Dish, laying down a standardised framework for how channels and programme information are organised and delivered. At the core of the update is a defined EPG data structure, covering genre-based categorisation, scheduling formats, and Logical Channel Numbering (LCN). The aim is simple: make navigation less guesswork and more guided experience across the platform’s over 40 million households.
The specifications also introduce a seven-day programme guide window for each channel, alongside clear rules for channel grouping and LCN mapping effectively deciding not just what you watch, but how easily you find it.
On the technical front, the document outlines requirements for Program Specific Information (PSI) and Service Information (SI), including descriptor usage across tables such as PAT, BAT and NIT. It further details service lists and network linkage parameters, giving OEMs and developers a clearer blueprint for integration.
Importantly, the framework is designed to work seamlessly with television sets equipped with in-built satellite tuners, enabling users to access DD Free Dish directly without additional hardware, an incremental but meaningful step towards simplifying access.
The platform will continue to operate on GSAT-15 transponders, using MPEG-4 compression and DVB-S2 transmission standards, ensuring continuity even as the interface evolves.
While largely technical, the move signals a broader push towards standardisation and user-friendly discovery in India’s free-to-air ecosystem because sometimes, the real upgrade isn’t what’s on screen, but how easily you get there.
