After primetime, DD National invites proposals for non-primetime slots

Close on the heels of shortlisting two production houses for providing primetime shows for DD National, pubcaster Doordarshan has invited proposals for programmes in different genres under sponsored category for non-primetime of DD National. Production houses Balaji Telefilms and Saai Baba Telefilms had emerged victorious in Doordarshan’s auction of programming slots on its flagship channel DD National. The two production houses, between themselves, had secured 19 of the 34 weekday slots and two of the three weekend slots on offer. As many as 16 slots including 15 weekdays and one weekend had gone unsold. The proposals for programmes under sponsored category for non-primetime have to be submitted with a processing fee along with the pilot episode in a professional optical disc, HD format and 16:9 aspect ratio, addressed to Director General, Doordarshan. The last date for submission of proposals is 20 January 2017. The proposal should contain: a) Detailed story line of the serial, break-up of the story in episodes and broad outline of treatment; b) Synopsis of each episode; and c) Detailed scenario script of at least four episodes. The applicant/producer will also have to furnish full bio data in respect of himself/herself while making the application. No change in the production team, once intimated, can be made without the prior consent of Doordarshan. The applicant will have to submit a photocopy of the latest Income Tax Return file, Sales Tax/Service Tax Registration number and partnership agreements in case of partnership firms and memorandum of article of association in case of limited companies. The producer will have to submit one pilot episode of the serial programme. The pilot is to be produced by the producer at his/her own risk and expense. In case of rejection of pilot or delay in preview, Doordarshan will not be responsible for the financial loss in any manner. However, in case of game shows and musical programmes where a costly set is required, the producer may submit the design of the set along with his/her proposal. The design of the set will also require the approval of Doordarshan before the producer starts the production of such programme. The producer must give an undertaking that s/he would have no objection if the programme is carried on DTH by Doordarshan free of charge with or without commercials. The proposals received will be processed in two stages (a) by the evaluation committee and (b) by the selection committee. The selection committee, while according its approval to the proposal, will clearly specify in case of a serialised TV programme the number of episodes for which it has been approved as well as the duration of each episode and the time band (primetime, mid-primetime, non-primetime, etc.). According to Doordarshan, the number of episodes should not normally exceed 52 episodes of weekly serials and 260 episodes of five days a week of daily soaps. Doordarshan will schedule/slot the shortlisted programmes as per the requirement of the time band, genre and quality of the programme. Each channel will allot time slot to serials keeping in view the requirement of the channel and commercial potential of the programme. The producer will pay Doordarshan telecast fee as may be prescribed from time to time in Doordarshan’s Commercial Rate Card. The payment of the telecast fee will be the joint and separate responsibility of the producer and his/her designated marketing agency. The producer will be entitled to utilise free commercial time (FCT) as may be specified from time to time. The producer can utilise the FCT before or after or in between the programme. In addition to FCT, the producer will be entitled to a credit line of 10 seconds each at the beginning and at the end of the programme. The credit line will include only the name of the sponsor/product, as the case may be. The sponsor will, however, be allowed to use in the credit line his/her logo, lettering style, music/sound effects, etc., as described in Doordarshan’s Commercial Rate Card.