State broadcaster Doordarshan is planning to set up a new channel DD International to “project India’s point of view” to the world.
Doordarshan floated an Expression of Interest (EOI) seeking applications for consultancy service to provide a detailed project report for establishing the channel.
As per the EOI document, the idea is to “build a global presence for Doordarshan and to establish an international voice for India”. Bids were invited from reputed global consultants with experience in advising international broadcasters/media houses on projects. The EOI says the channel will present India’s point of view on contemporary issues of both global and domestic significance. To reach out to the global audience, Doordarshan intends to have bilateral distribution arrangements with select broadcasters in other countries apart from live streaming through Prasar Bharati’s (DD’s parent body) global digital platform.
This comes against the backdrop of India’s Covid situation which continues to dominate headlines across a wide swathe of international publications and websites such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, the BBC, The Australian, The Economist, and news agency Reuters.
Prasar Bharati CEO S S Vempati said such a project was on the cards for some time now. “It has been a long overdue strategic objective to establish international presence for Doordarshan. The Prasar Bharati Board in its last meeting (March) gave the go ahead to develop a project roadmap for the same by engaging an appropriate strategy consultant. This EOI is a step towards that.”
Doordarshan already has English news and current affairs channel, DD India. The channel has progressed over the years to target a global audience. The channel was also renamed DD World for a while before it was changed back to DD India in 2019.
