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Prasar Bharati running short on cash
Prasar Bharati Corporation, the autonomous body modelled on the UK pubcaster BBC and overseeing the work of Doordarshan (DD) and the All India Radio (AIR), is facing a cash crunch and will move the government to release the funds allotted to it.
Admitting this fact, a senior Prasar Bharati Corporation official told indiantelevision.com, “There is a cash flow problem and we are taking up this issue with the government.”
According to the Corporation official, who is also part of the governing body, Prasar Bharati has mooted a proposal that it will sign a memorandum of understanding with the government to get released the grant-in-aid to it in two tranches. “This will ease the financial problems which the Corporation has been facing for quite some time now
Though the official denied any knowledge of non-payment of dues for work which had been sourced from outside, Prasar Bharati insiders did reveal to indiantelevison.com that the funds crunch has resulted in arrears piling up.
For example, the insiders said that casual reporters working for DD have not been paid their remuneration or get the payments late. Casual reporters are paid at the rate of Rs 750 per day and cannot be employed for more than ten days in a month.
Similarly, it is also said that DD had contracted an outside agency to act as its research division and undertake research work for various reports, analysis and news features for which payment is pending.
However, several efforts made by indiantelevision to elicit a response from the persons concerned who undertake research activities for DD proved futile.
But there is no denying the question that Prasar Bharati, partially on an expansion mode under chief executive KS Sarma, who is now slightly over three months old in the Corporation, is facing a cash flow problems.
Armed with a Rs 1000-million kitty for sourcing fresh programming, the Corporation will also soon start commissioning and buying programmes outright. “If we find, for example, a serial good then the Corporation will buy out the rights for it outright,” the official said.
The issue relating to finances and other matters will be discussed by the Prasar Bharati Corporation board meeting slated to be held on 3 July.
There is also a proposal to re-launch DD News, closed down earlier this year on 26 January after over 18 months of existence. But whether this will find favour with the board members and also the government, which still retains control over the Corporation indirectly, is still to be seen.
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.
