DD to introduce direct-to-home telecast in NE

KOLKATA, Dec 28 – Doordarshan is planning to introduce direct-to-home telecast of its programmes in the North-east while strengthening its marketing network to earn higher advertisement revenues commensurate with its nationwide reach, reports PTI. The national broadcaster would introduce DTH telecast through KU band in eight states, including Sikkim, in the region, Doordarshan director-general SY Quraishi told reporters here today. “Work has started at 160 villages selected for the purpose. W will initially introduce the facilities at 20 villages in each of the eight states,” Quraishi said. For other regions, he said, two private channels – Star and Zee – have applied for DTH and the proposals are before the Union cabinet. Doordarshan, he said, has decided to spruse up its marketing initiatives and opened marketing offices in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai while the same in Kolkata and Delhi would be opened soon. It was also signing ‘swap agreements’ with leading newspapers in the metropolises to highlight its programmes in the newspapers in exchange for offering air time to them. “As we have a reach and viewership far greater than all the private channels put together, we plan to project this to the advertisers to earn higher revenues,” he said. About new programmes, he said, DD News, which has over 90 per cent share in viewership, would have two more bulletins from January one and hourly bulletin from January 26 next.