NEW DELHI: The financial woes of the Prasar Bharati continue well into the current financial year. For the nine months ended 31 December 2012, the pubcaster has seen a Rs 3.23 billion drop in revenues despite having simulcast shows from private satellite broadcasters like Star Plus? Aamir Khan-anchored Satyamev Jayate and Zee TV?s Ramayan. The Olympics in July also did not help shore up the revenues this fiscal.

Prasar Bharati has reported a revenue of Rs 10.86 billion for the first nine months of the fiscal, down from Rs 14.09 billion a year ago.

The loss, however, has narrowed as the pubcaster has drastically reduced its costs. The expenditure incurred by Prasar Bharati for the nine months ended December 2012 was Rs 23.95 billion compared to Rs 33.40 billion a year ago.
 
The Government had in September last year approved a Financial Restructuring package for Prasar Bharati comprising 100 per cent salary support for five years, waiver of accumulated government debt, space and spectrum charges etc.

The increase in expenditure during the past few years has been primarily due to the implementation of various recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission.

MUMBAI: Zee TV has launched a new weekend non-fiction show titled India?s Best Dramebaaz, a 13-week reality series that will air every Saturday-Sunday at 9 pm starting 23 February.

The show produced by Essel Group?s in-house production arm Essel Vision will help Zee TV to take on competitors in weekend prime-time slot post the conclusion of its singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on 27 January.

The talent hunt show being totted as a national platform for India?s budding acting talent will put children in the age range of 5-12 years through a series of tasks and challenges that will groom them as actors and test their creativity, spontaneity and acting capabilities.

Zeel Head ? Content (Hindi GECs) Ajay Bhalwankar said, ?With India?s Best Dramebaaz, Zee TV is yet again introducing an all-new format in the non-fiction genre. Acting is something each one of us engages in, perhaps, without even realizing it. We all go through life portraying a variety of roles we are called upon to play. Children, without a doubt, are the most natural actors as they are simply not conscious of themselves."

To judge the kids on their histrionic skills, the channel has roped in popular actors Vivek Oberoi, Sonali Bendre and film-maker Anurag Basu. The show also marks Vivek?s debut on television.

Three months back, Zee TV began its countrywide search for the 18 talented kids from across the country.

Zee TV?s talent scouts have conducted auditions in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Nagpur, Patna, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Indore, Lucknow, Ranchi and Dehradun and the short-listed contestants are currently undergoing comprehensive workshops on honing their talent.