News Broadcasting
I&B not for private news channels on DD DTH platform
NEW DELHI: DD Direct Plus, the Indian pubcaster’s proposed KU-band direct-to-home television service, just can’t seem to get going.
Assertions to the contrary notwithstanding, the information and broadcasting ministry is having second thoughts on allowing private sector satellite-delivered news channels on Doordarshan’s DTH platform.
A source in the ministry did admit that there is a school of thought within the government that feels having other news channels like BBC, CNN and even domestic ones like Aaj Tak and Zee News would undermine DD News’ position.
“If at all there has to be a news channel on the platform, it should be Doordarshan News,” the ministry source said. But the real reason for the government developing cold feet on private news channels’ presence on the yet-to-be-launched DD Direct is the fear that critical news reports about the government on the pubcaster’s platform may not go down well with the political bosses.
Another source in Prasar Bharati, which manages DD, indicated that this was one of the reasons why the I&B ministry has not yet given the final nod for the launch of DD Direct that has been in the making for over six months now.
It is pertinent to mention here that Prasar Bharati officials have been tom-tomming the fact that 23-odd private sector TV channels have agreed (in principle) to be on DD Direct Plus, which would go a long way in enhancing the commercial feasibility of such a project.
The channels that had agreed to join the free-to-air DTH platform, according to Prasar Bharati, included BBC, CNN, Aaj Tak, Zee News, Star Utsav and a clutch of South Indian language channels.
No wonder then that a board meeting of Prasar Bharati yesterday in Bangalore did touch upon the DTH issue.
Earlier, Prasar Bharati had, reportedly, demanded approximately Rs 600,000 from private sector channels as carriage fee to be on the DTH platform. Total lack of interest shown by satellite channels, especially the mass
entertainment channels like Star Plus, Zee TV, Sony, Sahara One and Sab TV, resulted in Prasar Bharati backing down and offering carriage without any money.
With the government and Prasar Bharati not offering a definite date on the launch of DD Direct Plus, the latest joke doing the rounds in DD is that it’s like waiting for Godot.
News Broadcasting
WITT Summit 2026 concludes in New Delhi
Babar Azam’s comical diving attempt goes viral as league introduces anti-dew measures.
MUMBAI: The WITT Summit just wrapped up with enough big ideas to fill a policy playbook because when India’s leaders, thinkers and icons gather under one roof, even the conversations hit sixes. The eighth edition of TV9 Network’s flagship What India Thinks Today (WITT) Summit 2026 concluded on Saturday after two days of dynamic discussions at its New Delhi venue. India’s largest multi-domain public policy and culture summit brought together political leaders, policymakers, sports icons, artists and technology innovators to examine the forces shaping contemporary India and its global standing.
Prime minister Narendra Modi delivered the keynote address on the theme “India and the World” for the third consecutive year. In a wide-ranging speech, he addressed the ongoing conflict in West Asia, calling for restraint and compassion while highlighting India’s continued development trajectory despite global turmoil.
The summit featured candid conversations with state leaders. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy articulated a people-first governance model and contrasted it with other development approaches. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav declared that Left-wing extremism had been effectively eliminated in his state and highlighted preparations for the upcoming Kumbh Mela. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended his government’s record, citing the closure of 19 toll plazas and creation of the Sadak Suraksha Force. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed confidence in Congress prospects in Assam and addressed recent allegations against him.
On geopolitics and national security, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia outlined India’s ambition to become a builder of trusted digital infrastructure for the world, citing the rapid 5G rollout and village-level 4G connectivity.
Cricket received significant attention. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly praised player freedom and trust as hallmarks of great leadership and named MS Dhoni as the greatest captain due to his World Cup successes. India women’s team bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi credited the BCCI and Women’s Premier League for building a pipeline of world-class talent behind the team’s recent ODI World Cup triumph.
The summit also hosted the inaugural AI² Awards 2026, celebrating the convergence of human creativity and machine intelligence in storytelling and content creation. Poet and kathavachak Kumar Vishwas delivered a nuanced take on India’s concept of Dharma and criticised the recent arrest of an 80-year-old Shankaracharya. Veteran lyricist Sameer Anjaan and storyteller Neelesh Misra reflected on changing music trends and artistic responsibility in the wake of a recent controversy involving Nora Fatehi.
In a country where conversations often run as deep as the Ganges, the WITT Summit proved once again that when leaders, thinkers and storytellers come together, the real winner is public discourse lively, layered and refreshingly unafraid to tackle the big questions shaping India’s tomorrow.
