I&B Ministry
I&B ministry clears DD’s DTH plan, now before CCEA
NEW DELHI: The information & broadcasting ministry has cleared Doordarshan’s direct-to-home (DTH) plan.
However, since the projected cost of DD’s DTH foray is pegged at Rs 1.65 billion, it has to go before the Cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) for final clearance.
The plan involves an initial rollout in non-cable connected areas which will be later extended to cover the whole of the country and offer pay channels as well, I&B ministry sources say.
DD’s entry into DTH comes almost four years (June 1999) after Prasar Bharati first applied for a licence to be allowed to start DTH to the I&B ministry.
The only other serious player in the DTH arena at present is Subhash Chandra’s Zee Group. Star India, whose application through shell company Space TV is lying with the I&B ministry, does not look to be in any position to get into the act at the moment. It has to get the Star News issue cleared up first.
I&B Ministry
Doordarshan, ICCR sign MoU to boost global reach of Indian culture
Pact taps TV, radio and digital platforms to take cultural content worldwide
NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at taking India’s cultural story further across borders, Doordarshan under Prasar Bharati has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations to expand the global reach of Indian cultural content.
The agreement, signed on April 7 at Doordarshan Bhawan, brings together the content strength of ICCR and the wide broadcast network of Doordarshan, spanning television, radio and digital platforms.
Under the partnership, ICCR will provide a steady stream of cultural programming, including performances and events organised by Indian missions abroad such as embassies, consulates and cultural centres. Doordarshan will handle production, coverage and distribution, ensuring that these programmes find audiences not just in India but across the world.
The collaboration also opens the door for recorded cultural content from overseas missions to be aired across multiple platforms, including OTT and social media, making Indian art, music and heritage more accessible to global viewers.
A notable feature of the MoU is joint ownership of content rights in perpetuity, including digital rights. This allows both organisations to archive and reuse material over time, building a long-term cultural repository while maximising reach. Doordarshan will also support pre-event promotion and cross-platform visibility to drive engagement.
Speaking at the signing, Doordarshan director general K. Satish Nambudiripad and Indian Council for Cultural Relations director general K. Nandini Singla highlighted the potential of the partnership to strengthen India’s cultural diplomacy through modern media channels.
The agreement, initially valid for three years, also allows Doordarshan to explore monetisation opportunities from the content generated, adding a commercial layer to cultural broadcasting.
As India looks to blend tradition with technology, this partnership signals a clear intent to make its cultural voice not just heard, but seen and streamed across the globe.
