It's decided to maintain the status quo. The Prasar Bharati has said nyet to conversion of its entertainment service, Doordarshan Metro, as an exclusive satellite channel. DD Metro will continue as a terrestrial channel as it exists today, the Prasar Bharati said in a statement today.

Additionally, DD Metro will continue to be available - as it is currently - to cable TV subscribers through satellite delivery, the statement said.

"DD Metro will continue as a terrestrial channel. It will also be one of the revenue earners," a Prasar Bharati statement, quoting Prasar Bharati chief executive K S Sarma said.

The Prasar Bharati, according to the statement, has taken the decision after carefully considering the reach of the channel which is now available in most of the A, B1 and B2 cities of India.

DD Metro is also in the process of procuring programmes in the area of entertainment and several new shows are expected to be on air by August this year.

DD Metro, which is broadcast through 102 transmitters, covers 14.2 per cent of the total area and reaches 34.8 per cent of the population. It also has a viewership base of 42.3 million TV households.