DD Free Dish expands reach with greater representation of languages from southern States
In a written response to a query in Lok Sabha, the Minister said DD Free Dish had experienced consistent growth in its reach over the past few years. As per industry estimates, it reached 49 million households nationwide as of 2024. The figure was 33 million in 2018.
'The Government has taken various proactive measures to increase the representation of South Indian language channels on DD Free Dish, including: for better regional representation, slots had been reserved for South Indian language channels in the e-auctions of DD Free Dish platform (done in 2025),' said the reply.
The eligibility norms have been simplified to ensure greater participation from private broadcasters in the southern region. 'Furthermore, dedicated slots were offered for Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam channels in recent e-auctions. Three additional South Indian language private channels viz. TV9 Telugu, Aastha Kannada & Aastha Telugu, have been onboarded on DD Free Dish since April 1, 2025,' it said.
Doordarshan's own regional channels, such as DD Tamil, DD Saptagiri, DD Chandana, DD Yadagiri, and DD Malayalam have also been onboarded. 'The channels are being technologically upgraded and better promoted to enhance their visibility. Apart from this, there are 27 educational channels on DD Free Dish, which are relaying programs in various South Indian languages,' said the reply.
Responding to another question, the Minister said the government had undertaken measures for the modernisation and expansion of Akashvani and Doordarshan Kendras (DDK) across all the States.
'The Kendras are being upgraded under the Central Sector Scheme -- Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND). This includes major upgrades throughout the country, including Bihar, to strengthen public broadcasting. The scheme has been approved with a total outlay of Rs. 2,539.61 crore for the period 2021-26,' it said.
The government has also sanctioned various projects for the modernisation of broadcasting infrastructure in Bihar. 'It includes ₹64.56 crore for modernisation of Akashvani Kendras and Rs.4.31 crore for modernisation of Doordarshan Kendras,' said the reply.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
14 minutes ago
- The Hindu
State govt. yet to submit proposal for IIMPs, says Union Minister
The Kerala government has not yet submitted the proposal for the Integrated Island Management Plans (IIMPs) as per the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2019, according to Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh. He was replying to Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden's question in the Lok Sabha on whether the Centre proposed to implement IIMPs to meet the unique environmental and infrastructure needs of island communities in Ernakulam, thus enhancing their quality of life and safeguarding their ecosystem. Mr. Singh said that the Ministry had approved the Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs) for all coastal districts, including Ernakulam, through a letter dated October 16, 2024. IIMPs are prepared as per the CRZ Notification 2019 and are approved based on the proposal received from the State government. The Government of Kerala is yet to submit the IIMP proposal, he said. The MP had asked whether the government had plans to consider reassessing 13 excluded panchayats in Ernakulam for CRZ-II classification, given their urban-like characteristics and the essential development needs of their residents. It included Alangad, Chendamangalam, Chittattukara, Ezhikkara, Kadungalloor, Karumaloor, Kottuvally, Kunnukara, Puthenvelikkara, Udayamperoor, Vadakkekkara, Kuzhuppilly, and Pallippuram. The Minister said that the CZMP of Kerala was approved by the Ministry through a letter dated October 16, 2024, based on the recommendation of the technical scrutiny committee meeting held on March 1, 2024, and the recommendations of the National Coastal Zone Management Authority at its 47th meeting held on September 23, 2024. Thereafter, the Ministry has not received any further proposal to date for the inclusion of remaining panchayats in Category-II of the CRZ classification, he said.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Stalin hails benefits of reservation for OBCs in all-India quota in medical admissions
On the fourth anniversary of the Union government's decision to provide 27% reservation for OBCs in the all India quota for undergraduate and postgraduate medical admissions, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday renewed his vow to uphold social justice. About 20,000 students from OBCs got admissions during the past four years, which was a dream that ran across many generations for several families, Mr. Stalin in a social media said. By striving against many challenges, Mr. Stalin said: 'We are ensuring our place in education and employment.' On the occasion of the International Tiger Day on Tuesday, Mr. Stalin, in another social media post, said that Tamil Nadu roared with pride. 'With 306 tigers as per NTCA, this success rests on the shoulders of our forest staff and anti-poaching teams who guard critical habitats across tough terrains.' The Chief Minister further said that about 1,900 field posts have been filled, forces are being upgraded with modern gear, technology, and dedicated veterinarians to boost forest conservation. 'Habitats are being revived by removing invasives and improving forest health. The Tamil Nadu Forest and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, a specialised unit, has been formed to curb organised wildlife crime. In saving our tigers, we are protecting the soul of our forests,' he said.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Tharoor raises delinking of BrahMos Thiruvananthapuram unit from parent firm in Parliament
Shashi Tharoor, MP, has drawn the Union government's urgent attention to the reported move to delink the Thiruvananthapuram unit of BrahMos from the parent BrahMos Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. (BAPL). Raising the matter under Rule 377 in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Tharoor called for the intervention of the Ministry of Defence and the Union government to protect BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd. (BATL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of BAPL, considering its strategic importance. Mr. Tharoor urged the Union government to ensure that either the BATL, located in his parliamentary constituency, remained under the Indo-Russian missile joint venture the BAPL or was reconstituted as a direct production centre under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). He said the resolution to delink the BATL was passed without consultation with the State government, stakeholders, or the employee unions, causing anxiety among the staff. The BATL, he pointed out, manufactured precision components, engines, other critical systems for the BrahMos missile programmes. Its workforce had played a significant role in boosting India's strategic defence capabilities, he said, highlighting the need to address the matter without delay. Though members are allowed to raise matters of urgent public importance under Rule 377 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Tharoor in a post on X said his submission on the challenges faced by the BrahMos plant in Thiruvananthapuram was tabled on account of the debate on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha, which was ironic in view of the successful deployment of BrahMos during Sindoor.
