Prasar Bharati to auction prime time slots on DD

Public Broadcaster Prasar Bharati has decided to auction prime time slots, between 7-11 pm, on its national channel as per a new policy under which the producers will provide content in return for a share in the advertising revenue.
The modalities of the new 'slot sale' policy were discussed today in a meeting of Prasar Bharati Board, which was also attended by Bollywood actor Kajol, who was nominated earlier this year.
Sources told PTI that in the meeting chaired by Prasar Bharati chairperson A Suryaprakash, it was felt that e-auctions could be held for the 7 - 11 pm slots for all the seven days of the week barring Saturdays.

"We have decided that on Saturdays, Prasar Bharati Board would reserve the 7-8 pm slot for its own content and the 8 to 11 pm slot will be auctioned. For the rest of the days of the week the 7-11 pm band will be auctioned. We hope that the slot sale policy comes into effect from October onwards," a board member said.
Sources also said the programmes approved earlier under the Self-Financed Commission (SFC) scheme, under which the Doordarshan acquires programmes and then recovers cost through ad revenue, will also be utilised by the channel.
Earlier there were reports that many of the SFC programmes, including one on the life of Deendayal Upadhaya and another on the life of Savitribai Phule, could be scrapped.

One of the members, Ashok Tandon, had drawn the attention of the Board to this issue, sources said.
"The programmes which have been approved will be utilised and a committee will look into these aspects. However, there may be some shifting of the time slots based on the auction process results," a source said.
Among other issues discussed was creation of a digital platform for Prasar Bharati regarding which it has been decided that a panel will submit its report.