News Broadcasting
Prasar Bharati targets 2 million DTH subscribers by end 2005
NEW DELHI: On the eve of a formal launch of Doordarshans DTH service by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Prasar Bharati said that it has set a target of two million subscribers by end 2005 and increasing channel capacity to 50 by June next.
On the occasion of a demonstration of DD Direct Plus, the brand name under which DD would market its free DTH service, Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma said, By December 2005 we hope to have a subscriber base of two million, which may help the platform net additional private TV channels.
Though he ruled out any private sector pay channels immediately joining DD Direct Plus, he did say that 40-odd free to air TV channels, including German pubcaster DW, standing in the queue having shown interest in joining the DTH platform.
He added, Since we do not have much capacity at the moment to include all TV channels that have shown interest, we have asked Tam to carry out a survey and based on the popularity of a channel, it would be allowed entry on DD Direct Plus.”
DD Direct Plus is a free to DTH service offering 32 FTA TV channels, including 13 private ones, and 12 customised radio channels. A subscriber would have to make an one-time investment of Rs, 3,000-Rs 3,500 on the hardware and pay no monthly subscription fee, unlike the countrys first DTH service, marketed by Zee Telefilms under Dish TV brand name.
Sarma was optimistic that there would many takers for this service, as about 45 million TV homes in the country dont have any cable service. In this regard, Prasar Bharati has distributed 10,000 set-top-boxes, free in those states where TV coverage is below the national average.
A higher-end version of the set-top boxes, being manufactured by private companies, do have an option for smart cards in case of pay channels joining DDs DTH platform in future.
The STBs being sold in the market are not branded ones, but Prasar Bharati plans to float a tender inviting interested hardware companies to make Prasar Bharati branded boxes after paying a minimum guarantee on a non-exclusive basis.
DD Direct Plus, beaming through NSS 6 satellite, includes all DD channels, apart from the likes of BBC World, Sun TV, Star Utsav, from the Zee stable Kairali TV, Zee Music and Smile TV, Jain TV, Aaj Tak and Headlines Today. The radio channels include All India Radio channels.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
