Claiming that the country’s largest public broadcaster, Doordarshan was under the process ofmodernization, Baljit Singh Lalli, Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharti, on Monday (Jan 5) revealed that during the forthcoming commonwealth games, DD would relay its signals on latest technology of High Definition.

“Process of establishing four studios in metro cities including, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai is already on and well before the coming commonwealth games it will be ready”, Lalli told.

The High Definition studios would help to relay digital signal to all the viewers of DD as it would drastically improve the quality of picture and  sound of the channel, he claimed.

Lalli revealed that process of digitilisation of the transmission system was already under process and it was expected that in the years to come the process would be completed, he said adding that for the modernization of the DD, new equipments were being purchased, for which a budget of Rs 430 crore has been earmarked.

Asked as DD used to be the sole broadcaster of international cricket matches till few years ago, would it try to get back its status, CEO  revealed that since the agreement with other broadcasters with Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) would end only next year, DD would definitely make its bid to get the broadcasting rights.

He admitted that the DD was facing difficulties in getting transmission in all over the country because some of the cable operators were not implementing the rules of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) under which it was mandatory for every cable operator to pub the channels of DD on prime band.

“We have taken up the matter with the concerned authority and it is expected the rule will be strictly implemented”, he added.

Lalli, who was here in the local Doordarshan Kendra, for a special function on the occasion on broadcasing of special programme “Guru Manyo Granth” revealed that as there was great demand of the broadcasting of this particular programme, it has been planned to make English, Urdu and Arabic versions of the programme very soon.

“Guru Manyo Granth is already been telecasted in Hindi from the National hook- up of Doordarshan in a prime time chunk in October” Lalli said adding that the Punjabi version of the serial is commencing from today.

Lalli revealed that bouquet of Direct to Home (DTH) of Prasar Bharati has been strengthened and as many as 59 channels were being offered under the  service. He said that Doordarshan has decided to strengthen the production of in-house programme rather than outsourcing it.