24-hour Parliament channel soon

According to estimates Doordarshan has provided the I&B Ministry, the 24-hour channel that will be aired 365 days a year will cost a minimum of Rs 25 crore. A further Rs 5-6 crore is needed for equipment. The Parliament Secretariat has stressed that the channel will be autonomous. Doordarshan will not be footing the bill for the independent channel.

Doordarshan sources said that the national broadcaster will provide minimum equipment—already stationed in Parliament—and transponder space. Chatterjee is said to be keen to have the parliamentary channel running even when Parliament is not in session in order to retain viewers. Parliament is in session for 120 days a year on an average.

The problem at present is that “cable operators are not interested in telecasting a channel which does not run 24 hours”.

Parliament Secretariat sources have said it is difficult to get cable operators telecast the DD-LS and DD-RS channels in their current form.

“They are only interested in 24-hour channels. Since the DD-LS/DD-RS is taken off the telecast bouquet once the session is over, they very often refuse to put it back unless political pressure is put on them or the initiative is taken by local political heavyweights,” sources said.

Sources say this is what led to the idea of converting DD-LS and DD-RS into a 24-hour channel with interesting documentaries, live discussions and updates on proceedings as well as procedures.

“The aim is to educate people on the issues before Parliament and how they are being addressed… and also house procedures in an interesting manner to develop a dedicated serious viewership,” sources said.

There will be no news telecast but instead there will be a news capsule with an internal panel providing a round-up of the days proceedings when Parliament is on.