The Indian Government has said that the country’s pubcaster Prasar Bharati has entered into an agreement with Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) to develop nextgen broadcast solutions.

“Prasar Bharati has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with IIT Kanpur to develop next generation broadcast solution/roadmap for digital terrestrial broadcasting, consistent with emerging standards such as 5G broadcast,” Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) stated in Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) earlier this week.

Pointing out that a  sanction for the proof of concept of next generation broadcasting has also been conveyed to IIT-Kanpur, MIB further added that selection of an appropriate technology and DTT roadmap of Doordarshan depended upon the feedback.

Last month Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi S. Vempati, while speaking at a media conference, had said digitisation was one of the key changes that had taken place over the last three or four years since he had joined the public broadcaster.

“Practically every Doordarshan channel and All India Radio station now has a digital presence spanning multiple platforms, be it YouTube for live streaming or on social media to engage with the audience,” he said, and added that the Prasar Bharati app, which has 200-plus radio streams, was one of a kind in the world, for, irrespective of where one was in the world, one could listen to one’s hometown radio station.

Convergence of television and radio content through technology was the way forward, he had said.

All India Radio Goes Green: In line with the green initiatives of the Indian Government and its vision on electric mobility, All India Radio has shifted its entire fleet to EVs for all its transportation needs.

Prasar Bharati CEO Vempati and All India Radio DG N Venudhar Reddy flagged off a fleet of 26 EVs at Akashvani Bhawan in New Delhi on Thursday.

In what can be seen as a small but important contribution towards realising the environmental goals of India, this is the second largest fleet of EVs to be deployed in Delhi, the pubcaster said in a statement.

DG Reddy expressed hopes that EVs will be brought in for other stations of All India Radio also, adding AIR has entered into an agreement with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) for EVs for the next five years.