Doordarshan,IGNOU ink MoU for transmission of Gyan Darshan channels

A Memorandum of Understanding was today signed between Doordarshan and IGNOU regarding the transmission of Four Gyan Darshan Educational channels. The Gyan Darshan Bouquet of Educational TV Channels is an educational media initiative of MHRD in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Prasar Bharati and ISRO with IGNOU as the nodal agency. It consists of four TV Channels namely GD-I &II (by IGNOU) GD-III- Eklava (by IIT, Delhi) GD-IV- Vyas Channel (by UGC, CEC). It was initially launched on 26th January, 2000 as a solitary 24x7 hour satellite channel under the banner of Doordarshan which provided a Transponder on INSAT 2B satellite, free of cost. Gyan Darshan ran successfully till 2nd June 2014 as a must carry channel for educational programmes. GD was shut down by ISRO to facilitate its migration from INSAT 3C to GSAT-10. IGNOU now needs to apply for a fresh license to start the up-linking of its channels for GSAT-10 Satellite.

Under the up-linking and down-linking guidelines of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, IGNOU is not eligible for the grant of a license. IGNOU requested Doordarshan to apply for the necessary license and permissions for the Gyan Darshan channels. Through this MoU, Doordarshan has acceded to the request of IGNOU and agreed to apply for and obtain the necessary license and permissions as are required for the telecast of Gyan Darshan channels from the IGNOU Earth Station, Delhi to operate in C-band from GSAT-10. Speaking on the occasion, Supriya Sahu, Director General, Doordarshan said, " I am happy that we have signed this MOU with IGNOU and joined hands with a premier institution like IGNOU. This partnership would ensure that the educational channels of IGNOU reach and benefit millions of students across the country. I think this is one of the most outstanding initiatives in the field of Public Broadcasting". Professor Ravindra Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU said, "Gyandarshan has always been a flagship programme for IGNOU and educational community. Today we (IGNOU and DD) are both happy and enormously excited that Gyandarshan has once again become a reality. Our grateful thanks to Ms. Supriya Sahu, DG, DD for her kind support in reviving Gyandarshan".