News Broadcasting
MIB: Doordarshan clocks 372 crore viewers; Prasar Bharati nets Rs 14,421 crore
Funds channelled into salaries and BIND-led upgrades, Ministry told
NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati received Rs 14,421 crore in budgetary support between 2020–21 and 2024–25, the ministry of information and broadcasting told Parliament, underlining the government’s continued backing of India’s public service broadcaster.
The funds were deployed primarily towards staff salaries and infrastructure upgrades under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme. With an outlay of Rs 2,539.61 crore for 2021–26, BIND is aimed at modernising studios, transmission networks and digital systems across Doordarshan and All India Radio.
Over the same period, Doordarshan recorded a cumulative gross unique viewership of 372.8 crore between 2021 and January 2026, according to estimates by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC). Officials stressed that the figure reflects overall reach rather than sustained engagement levels.
Responding to a query from DMK MP T R Baalu, minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan, said Prasar Bharati’s audience base had not seen a sharp decline despite intensifying competition from private television and radio networks.
Murugan told Parliament that Prasar Bharati follows a “nation first” mandate, prioritising public service over ratings or commercial returns. Doordarshan and Akashvani, he said, are required to serve remote, rural, tribal and left-wing extremism–affected regions that are often unwelcoming to private broadcasters.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
