NEW DELHI: Twenty studio centres of Doordarshan are being renovated with replacement of old ageing equipment as part of the 12th Plan Schemes, the Parliament has been told.
In addition, old 100 W Low Power Transmitters (LPTs) are being replaced by 500W Automode LPTs, and upgradation is underway of 18 existing Earth Stations and replacement of Digital Satellite News Gathering System (DSNG).
The minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said in reply to a series of questions that these are part of some schemes of modernisation/ upgradation of Studios, Transmitters and Satellite Broadcast equipment which have been approved.
Replacement of old transmitters (LPT & HPT) has enhanced the system’s reliability & performance quality of Doordarshan.
Rathore said digital transmission has enabled the viewers to receive multiple TV channels in their fixed/mobile receive sets with suitable additional hardware.
With the induction of digital equipment, technical quality of programme production and post production has improved.
Doordarshan has 228 High Power Transmitters (HPTs) and 806 Low Power Transmitters (LPTs) in its terrestrial TV network.
Doordarshan has been assigning priority to strengthen TV coverage in border areas of the country. Special packages for expansion and improvement of Doordarshan services in the border areas have been formulated from time to time.
Doordarshan’s FreeDish DTH signals can be received anywhere in the country including border areas with the help of small sized dish receiving units.
The Minister said the technical quality of Doordarshan transmission both in satellite and terrestrial mode along the border areas is quite satisfactory.
As part of continuing schemes of the 12th Plan, transmitter projects approved for implementation in Jammu and Kashmir are High Power Transmitters (HPTs) at Green Ridge; at Himbotingla, Natha Top (Patnitop), and at Rajouri (for DD National and DD News).
The target to complete these projects in phased manner has been set for about two years.
In Gujarat, three transmitters HPT Bhuj, LPT Punandhro and LPT Rapar are in operation in Kutch district. Parts of the district are covered by HPT Radhanpur. An old ageing HPT at Bhuj was replaced by new 10 KW HPT in 2015.
