NEW DELHI: While denying a slowdown in Doordarshan’s expansion plans, the Government said that new transmitters are not envisaged except for a few in the border areas.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore told Parliament that this was in view of multichannel TV coverage having been provided in the entire country through Doordarshan’s free to air DTH service.

However, as part of continuing schemes of 12th Plan, Doordarshan has set up High Power Transmitter (HPT) (interim setup) at Mehaboobnagar and a Very Low Power Transmitter (VLPT) at Joginder Nagar during the last three years. 

Doordarshan has also approved five new transmitters to be set-up in Jammu and Kashmir: High Power Transmitters (DD1 & DD News) Rajouri; HPT, Natha Top (Patni Top); HPT, Himbotingla Top; and HPT, Green Ridge.

A total of 21 radio channels (programmes) of AIR have been made available through DTH platform DD Freedish (Ku-band) and these can be received through a set top box all over the country including uncovered areas.

Doordarshan’s terrestrial coverage is estimated to be available to about 92 per cent of population spread over 81 per cent area of the country.

The areas uncovered by terrestrial transmitters along with rest of the country have been provided with multichannel TV coverage through Doordarshan’s free to air DTH service Freedish. It is possible to receive DTH signals anywhere in the country with the help of a small sized dish receive unit. Equipment for upgradation of DTH platform from 59 TV channels to 97 to 112 TV channels has been installed recently.

Besides these, Doordarshan’s regular 22 channels are available on satellite mode and through cable network, which is the most preferred source of viewership and receptional viewership.

DD is expanding its Freedish services for which viewers will get to see 112 channels as against 59 at present.