NEW DELHI: Addressing a press meet at the Doordarshan Kendra in Worli, Mumbai, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said the government is committed to making Doordarshan the first choice of viewers across the country and a special provision will be made in the Union Budget for a total revamp of DD.

Javadekar, who was in the western metropolis to make a full appraisal of the Mumbai Kendra of Doordarshan, held discussion with officials about future plans, said: "The blue print for revamp of national and regional channels of DD is being drawn and this will involve going for staff and artist recruitment on a large scale. I&B ministry is planning to change the look and feel of the national and regional channels of DD."  
 

The minister was however categorical that the automomy of the pubcaster would be protected.

Apart from this, the government will shortly take a decision on permitting private channels to broadcast news of All India Radio. It may also consider permitting news of Press Trust of India or United News of India.

Noting that the government gives huge half page or full page advertisements but they say very little, the minister said, "We are changing the operations completely. We will change all the designs to send across the maximum information that we can and also make it creative. We will crowd-source most of the advertisements where thousands of creative people or organisations will be asked to give their ideas about how to create advertisements. Then the best will be chosen and the top ten ideas will be awarded. This process will continue while designing most of the advertising campaigns." 

On a question relating to paid news, he agreed it was a ‘menace’, particularly during the run-up to the elections, but he would not comment as the matter was in the Court.

“Stalwarts like Lokmanya Tilak had fought for the freedom of the press and their sacrifice should not be allowed to go waste," he added.