News Broadcasting
Doordarshan is to run a special news bulletin titled ‘Ram Ki Paidi’
Mumbai: Meticulous arrangements are being made for the smooth and successful conduct of the consecration ceremony of the Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya Dham, being held on 22 January 2024. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will perform the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ as per prescribed rituals. It is expected that more than 8,000 guests will visit the temple on this day, followed by lakhs of devotees from 23 January onwards.
Live Telecast
Elaborate arrangements have been made for a LIVE telecast of the ceremony. The entire event would be live-telecast in 4K quality by Doordarshan, on DD News and DD National channels. On 23 January 2024, Doordarshan will do a LIVE telecast of Aarti and the Opening of Shree Ram Temple for the public.
Doordarshan shall share the clean feed of the event in Ayodhya on 22 January 2024 with ANI TV and PTI Video. All TV channels which are subscribers to the agency can obtain feed from there.
For other National and International broadcasters, a YouTube link with a key to a clean feed will be generated. This link will be shared with the concerned broadcasters upon their request. In order to obtain the YouTube link, domestic broadcasters may place their request with the Press Information Bureau. International TV Channels would need to place their request directly with Prasar Bharati. Contact details are available in the PIB Media Advisory, which can be accessed here.
Channels also have the option of patching to DD News, in case a clean feed is not required. Courtesy may be given to Doordarshan in this case. PIB will issue photographs and press releases of the event, in English, Hindi, and Indian state languages.
Ayodhya Media Centre
A Media Centre is being set up at Ram Katha Sangrahalay in Ayodhya with limited capacity, where large LED TVs will be set up to facilitate viewing of the telecast. The Media Centre will be equipped with a Wi-Fi facility for media persons to file their stories.
Portal for Media Passes
The media organizations desirous of covering the event from Ayodhya may apply through PIB’s centralized portal, latest by 6 p.m., 17 January 2024; based on which security passes will be issued, through state administration. The portal can be accessed here.
Special Programmes by Doordarshan
Besides the live telecasts, Doordarshan is running a Special News Bulletin titled Ram Ki Paidi (राम की पैडी)) during 1 January – 15, 2024. From 5 P.M. -8 P.M., there will be a special live programme titled “श्री राम अयोध्या आये हैं” (Shri Ram Ayodhya Aaye Hain) which will include daily Ayodhya round-up, guest discussions, special stories, and vox-pop.
Health Facilities
Efforts are being made to make information on medical care facilities at Ayodhya available on the website of the local administration in Ayodhya and the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, in order to facilitate people in getting adequate medical assistance. A team has been sent from JPNA Trauma Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi to impart training to around 200 health workers in Ayodhya from January 12 – 15, 2024.
The government of India is likely to establish a Bhishm Emergency Response facility at Ayodhya during the Pran Pratishta ceremony and allied programmes.
News Broadcasting
Mihir Bhatt appointed as chief content officer at News18 Studios
The media veteran brings two decades of experience across television, digital and radio to one of India’s biggest broadcast networks, Disney+ Hotstar, Discovery+
NEW DELHI: Network18 has a new strategist in the building. Mihir Bhatt, one of Indian media’s more versatile operators, has joined News18 Studios as chief content officer, stepping into a role that will see him shape content strategy, build multi-platform properties and drive brand partnerships across the network.
Bhatt brings more than two decades of experience spanning television, digital and radio, with a track record of doing something rare in Indian media: combining editorial ambition with hard commercial results. At Times Network, where he served as managing editor and chief business officer of Times Influence, he built one of the industry’s more respected content studios, launching marquee properties such as the India Economic Conclave, the Times Now Summit and Leaders of Tomorrow. He also pushed the network into premium OTT territory through tie-ups with Disney+ Hotstar and Discovery+.
His resume stretches well beyond the studio. Bhatt has led Global Investor Summits for multiple state governments, worked alongside the World Economic Forum and played a pivotal role in launching the Indian Pickleball League. Earlier, as editor of Zee Business, he pioneered investor education initiatives that are still cited as industry benchmarks.
At News18 Studios, Bhatt will report to chief executive S Shivakumar and will oversee the studios execution vertical alongside revenue verticals covering emerging markets and campaigns. Sidharth Saini, Hemanth Kumar and Nimar Sarkaria will work under him.
Rahul Joshi, managing director and editor-in-chief of Network18 Group, made the announcement in an internal communication. “Mihir’s ability to build enduring brands, foster strategic partnerships and navigate a rapidly evolving media landscape will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our position and explore new avenues of growth in the Studios business,” Joshi said.
In a media industry lurching between disruption and reinvention, Network18 has bet on a man who has spent two decades thriving in exactly that chaos. Whether he can do it again, at greater scale, is the question worth watching.
