The Hindu Business Line : Prasar Bharati aiming at Rs 1,500-cr revenue

Prasar Bharati, which earned Rs 1,250 crore in 2005-2006, is aiming at revenues of Rs 1,500 crore during the current fiscal, according to Mr K.S Sarma, CEO.

He was speaking to newspersons at the local AIR station on Tuesday after the inauguration of Visakha Rainbow FM radio station (102 MHz). The FM station was inaugurated by Visakhapatnam MP and former Chief Minister, Mr N. Janardhana Reddy.

Mr Sarma said that Prasar Bharati was earning Rs 600 crore or so when he assumed charge as CEO four years ago and it had made great strides in enhancing the income to over a thousand crore.

"Still, we are in the deficit by Rs 800 crore or so, as our annual expenditure amounts to roughly Rs 2,000 crore. Our maintenance costs amount to Rs 1,500 crore a year."

Referring to its future as public broadcaster, he said that the Government had constituted a group of Ministers, headed by the Home Minister Mr Shivraj Patil, to go into the issue and submit a report.

"Prasar Bharati has to go in for market borrowings or public issue to achieve financial viability. We must show more benefits to our employees to retain talent. We need to spend Rs 2,000 crore on digitalisation alone, without which there is no future."

He added that the group of Ministers would consider all these options and come out with a report, within a year probably. On the basis of the recommendations, a suitable plan would be prepared during the 11th Plan to strengthen the public broadcaster.

Mr Sarma also said that the DD India channel would be telecast in the US, from May 24 probably, and the private broadcaster would pay $3 million to Prasar Bharati for a five-year period.

"Several other agencies and individuals are bidding for telecast rights for the DD Punjabi channel and the DD news channel in the US and Canada. They want to cater to the needs of the Indian diaspora."

According to him, 25 more FM radio stations would be set up in Andhra Pradesh; the FM radio station at Vijayawada would become functional in June.

The foundation stone has been laid for a FM station at Srikakulam; the station would be operational by March 2007.

Referring to the demand for a programme generation facility at Visakhapatnam, he said that 22 such facilities were being planned; they would be set up during the 11th Plan period.