I&B Ministry
Prasar Bharati chooses Tektronix monitors for digital switch
MUMBAI: Prasar Bharati is vigorously pursuing its mission of making the transition from analogue to digital. Tektronix which claims to be the market leader in video test, measurement and monitoring has announced that Prasar Bharati has purchased Tektronix’ innovative handheld waveform monitors for studio and field use during the digital transition.
Prasar Bharati will use Tektronix WFM91D Handheld Waveform Monitors in a mixed analogue and digital environment for studio maintenance and field production work. Because the WFM91D is a dual standard monitor, it eliminates the need for the broadcaster to purchase separate analogue and digital monitoring instruments. As part of the WFM91D’s flexibility, the instrument will auto detect whether the incoming signal is composite analog video or standard definition digital video and configure itself accordingly.
As Prasar Bharati moves Doordarshan from analogue to digital it is looking to keep maintenance issues as simple as possible. The flexibility of the Tektronix WFM91D in its portability and its ability to move seamlessly between analog and digital sources allows Prasar Bharati to cost-effectively serve over 362 million viewers with the highest quality signals.
The Tektronix WFM91D Handheld Waveform Monitor is a handheld, multifunction monitor ideally suited to the monitoring needs of field production, equipment installation or any situation where portability and battery operation is required for analysis of analogue composite video and standard definition digital systems. The high-resolution, 4 in./102 mm color LCD display provides a clear picture of the incoming video signal.
Alternately, the waveform, vector or audio displays may be shown full-screen or overlaid in monochrome on top of the color picture display. In addition to the integrated LCD display, a composite video output enables routing to an external display.
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.
