**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 2048 in Lok Sabha, to be answered on February 11, 2026, regarding the fall in viewership of national broadcasting organizations. It outlines the role of Prasar Bharati as a public service broadcaster, government support through the BIND scheme, and viewership statistics from 2021 to January 2026. The document also highlights new initiatives undertaken by Prasar Bharati.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Prasar Bharati's Role:**
* Functions as the country's Public Broadcaster, mandated under Section 12 of the Prasar Bharati Act.
* Operates as a public service broadcaster, undertaking pro bono and public interest broadcasting activities.
* Focuses on providing broadcast coverage to rural, tribal, underdeveloped, border, and Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas, and strategically significant regions underserved by private broadcasters.
* Prioritizes public service over commercial gains with a 'Nation First' ethos.
* **Government Support (BIND Scheme):**
* The Government of India supports Prasar Bharati through the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme.
* The BIND scheme is for the development, modernization, and upgrade of broadcasting infrastructure, including that of All India Radio (AIR).
* The scheme has an outlay of Rs. 2539.61 crore for the years 2021-26.
* Total budgetary support to Prasar Bharati from 2020-21 to 2024-25 was approximately ₹ 14,421 crore, including salaries of government employees on deputation.
* **Viewership & Enhancement Efforts:**
* Subscribed Doordarshan channels recorded a cumulative viewership of 372.8 crore from 2021 to January 2026 (based on BARC estimates).
* Akashvani and Doordarshan channels are continuously enhanced through improvements in content quality, audience feedback, and new programme formats.
* **New-Age Initiatives by Prasar Bharati:**
* Launched Prasar Bharati's OTT platform “WAVES" in 2024.
* It is a multi-genre digital streaming aggregator platform providing infotainment content in multiple Indian Languages.
* It integrates various channels of Doordarshan and the AIR network.
* DD Free Dish (Free-to-Air Direct-To-Home) has grown from 104 channels in 2019 to 510 channels.
* Includes private and educational TV channels, besides Doordarshan channels.
* Features 48 Akashvani radio channels.
* NewsOnAir App features more than 260 live radio channels of Akashvani.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Prasar Bharati**
* **Impact:**
* Continued operation as a public service broadcaster, supported by government funding and infrastructure development.
* Enhanced ability to reach underserved regions and audiences.
* Modernization and upgrade of broadcasting infrastructure.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue to operate under Section 12 of the Prasar Bharati Act
* Implement new initiatives to increase viewership.
* Continue to enhance content quality and program formats based on audience feedback.
**Stakeholder: Government of India**
* **Impact:**
* Fulfilling its commitment to support public broadcasting and provide services to underserved areas.
* Modernizing broadcasting infrastructure through the BIND scheme.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue providing financial support through the BIND scheme and budgetary allocations.
**Stakeholder: Viewers/Citizens**
* **Impact:**
* Access to free and public interest broadcasting content, especially in underserved regions.
* Access to diverse content through DD Free Dish and the NewsOnAir App.
* **Action Required:**
* Utilize available broadcast services.
* Provide feedback to Prasar Bharati on content and programming.
Key Entities Referenced
Prasar Bharati: India's Public Broadcaster, responsible for Doordarshan and All India Radio.
Prasar Bharati Act: The act that mandates Prasar Bharati's functions as a public broadcaster. Section 12 is specifically referenced.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting: The primary ministry involved in broadcasting policy and oversight. The question is addressed to this ministry.
Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND): A Central Sector Scheme for the development, modernization, and upgradation of broadcasting infrastructure for Prasar Bharati.
Doordarshan: A national television channel which is a part of Prasar Bharati
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2048
(TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026)
FALL IN VIEWERSHIP OF NATIONAL BROADCASTING ORGANISATIONS
2048. SHRI T R BAALU:
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the viewership of National
broadcasting organisations both television and radio has fallen sharply
as the private channels are far ahead in terms of quality and popularity;
(b) if not, the details of the number of viewership, earnings and
profitability during the last five years of Doordarshan and All India Radio
vis-a-vis private television and radio channels; and
(c) the details of budgetary support provided to national broadcasting
organisations during the last five years and the purpose for which it
was given served?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(DR. L. MURUGAN)
(a) to (c): Prasar Bharati functions as the country’s Public Broadcaster,
as mandated under Section 12 of the Prasar Bharati Act. In accordance
with this statutory role, it operates as a public service broadcaster,
primarily undertaking pro bono and public interest broadcasting
activities. These include providing broadcast coverage to rural, tribal,
underdeveloped, border, and Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected
areas, as well as other strategically significant regions that remain
underserved due to the lack of commercial viability for private
broadcasters. Prasar Bharati operates with a 'Nation First' ethos,
prioritizing public service over commercial gains.The Government of India supports through a Central Sector Scheme
“Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND)” for
development, modernization and upgradation of broadcasting
infrastructure for Prasar Bharati, including that of All India Radio (AIR).
Outlay for this scheme is Rs. 2539.61 crore for the years 2021-26. During
the last five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25, the total budgetary support
provided to Prasar Bharati was approximately ₹ 14,421 crore, which
includes expenditure towards salaries of Government employees on
deemed deputation to Prasar Bharati, as well as allocations under the
BIND Scheme.
As per the Gross Unique Viewership estimates provided by M/s
Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), the subscribed
Doordarshan channels recorded a cumulative viewership of 372.8 crore
from 2021 till January 2026. Akashvani and Doordarshan channels are
continuously enhanced through sustained improvements in content
quality, regular audience feedback, and the introduction of new and
engaging programme formats.
Some of the new-age initiatives undertaken by Prasar Bharati include -
Prasar Bharati's OTT platform “WAVES" launched in 2024
o Multi-genre digital streaming aggregator platform providing
infotainment content in multiple Indian Languages
o Various channels of Doordarshan and AIR network are
integrated into this platform
DD Free Dish (Free-to-Air Direct-To-Home)
o Grown significantly from 104 channels in 2019 to 510 channels
now
o Includes private and educational TV channels, besides the
Doordarshan channels.
o 48 Akashvani radio channels
NewsOnAir App
o More than 260 live radio channels of Akashvani.
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