NEW DELHI: National broadcaster Doordarshan has earned Rs 5,538.1 million in advertisement revenues during the year 2002-2003.
Replying to a question by Ram Jethmalani and others in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) today, information & broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the earnings of Doordarshan were Rs 3993.2 million, Rs 5971.9 million, Rs. 6375.1 million and Rs 6152.1 million during the years 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-2001 and 2001-2002, respectively.
Prasad said the advertisement rates of DD were constant from 1998-99 to 2000-2001. In 2001-2002, rates were revised and lowered by 25 per cent to keep in tune with the competitive market, Prasad added.
But facts show that Prasar Bharati, which oversees the functioning of DD and All India Radio, has failed to make full use of the aid given by the government. During the last three financial years part of the grant -in-aid had always been left unused.
In reply to another question on DD, Prasad admitted that the national broadcaster has not fully utilised the aid given to it by the government during the last financial year ended 31 March, 2003.
According to the minister, during 2002-03 (up to February 2003) the grant in aid given to DD amounted to Rs 4843.2 million (Rs. 866.8 million under plan and Rs 3976.4 million under non-plan segment), while the utilisation of the funds was only to the tune of Rs 4023.8 million.
During 2001-02, DD got grant in aid to the tune of Rs 4476 million, while the urilisation was Rs 4346.2 million. During 2000-01 the government aid was Rs 4599.9 million, while the utlisation of the fund was Rs 4418.1 million.