India wants to abandon terrestrial TV
January 28, 2014
By Chris Forrester
India’s giant public broadcaster Doordarshan is suggesting to the country’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting that the government should consider totally abandoning terrestrial TV.
The thought is that Doordarshan could then consider DTH as its primary transmission mode, which would serve cable distribution as well as private homes, and save a fortune in the process.
India’s Prasar Bharati (which looks after Doordarshan as well as All India Radio) in the shape of its Expert Committee, headed up by Sam Pitroda, in its report to the ministry, said: “This scenario presents a strong case for switching off analogue terrestrial TV broadcasts within a short period of time and adoption of DD Direct (DTH) as Doordarshan’s primary mode of transmission.”
The special committee argued that Doordarshan should continue to support DTH and cable distribution but ending analogue transmissions would result in considerable savings while at the same time permit Doordarshan to expand the number of channels it offers viewers.