Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Ambika Soni said that the phased expansion of DD DTH platform which proposed to increase free to air channels from 59 to 200 would offer a wide bouquet to the viewers. The digitalization of AIR and DD would enable remote and far flung regions to receive higher quality signals.

There are 33 free-to-air TV channels and 12 AIR channels available throughout India, except Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Doordarshan is trying to reach those TV homes having no cable & satellite connection, through its DTH service ‘DD Direct Plus’.

The areas uncovered by terrestrial transmission along with rest of the country have been provided with multi–channel TV coverage through Doordarshan’s free to air Direct to Home (DTH) service “DD Direct Plus”. DTH signals can be received in the entire country (except Andaman & Nicobar Islands) with help of a small sized dish receive units.

The Direct-to-Home TV channels materialized after launching the Ku band transmission of “DD Direct plus” in December, 2004.

Over 10 million Set Top Boxes have been sold out in the market and the service is gaining popularity among the masses. The Number of channels available on this platform is proposed to be increased to fifty. The DD Direct Plus has gained momentum in all parts of the country.

So far, 10,000 dish receive units (Dish and STB) have been provided free of cost in the uncovered villages of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Karnataka, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and North Eastern States. These are provided to pubic institutions like Aanganwadis, schools, public health centres, Panchayats, youth clubs, co-operative societies etc. in uncovered pockets.

Source: Frontierindia.net