NEW DELHI: Though it was one of the first channels to go on to the direct-to-home platforms, Doordarshan has finally ensured that the private DTH operators carry its electronic programming guide.

For this purpose, Doordarshan has entered into a deal with NDTV and What’s on India Media.

A DD source told indiantelevision.com that NDTV will manage the EPG of all 21 DD channels and deliver it to all multi-system operators and DTH operators of the country.

Servicing, aggregating EPGs of all the channels of DD Direct Plus and delivering it to DTH Direct Plus platform in compatible format will be handled by What’s on India.

The source said that some of the DTH operators had already commenced the EPG guide while others will commence shortly.

This move is expected to increase viewership of Doordarshan, who unlike private TV channels do not always run the same series at the same times on all days of the week. DD has some series which runs on only one or two days a week and others running daily on week days, and this often leads to confusion among viewers.

The source therefore said this was bound to bring the viewer closer to the channel.

EPG would provide Doordarshan viewers with continuously updated menus, displaying broadcast programming or scheduling information for current and upcoming programming.