Doordarshan attracts 172MN viewers a week

Indian public broadcaster Doordarshan (DD) attracted 172 million viewers a week for its national channel in 2016, compared to 133 million a week in 2015, according to Government figures. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Rathore, said the figures were compiled under the country’s New Consumer Classification System (NCCS). He added that Doordarshan’s primary duty is to provide public broadcasting services to inform, educate and entertain the public under the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act 1990. It could not be driven purely by a commercial motive to produce shows with high ratings. Doordarshan (DD) delivers a range of programmes for viewers in rural areas through its 23 satellite channels, of which 16 are regional language channels, six are national and one is international. DD has also launched the DD Kisan Channel for farmers and viewers in rural, agricultural communities. Its programming is focused on the areas of agriculture, weather, rural development and entertainment.