Prasar Bharati posts revenue of Rs 10.38 bn for 9 months ended December

NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati has earned revenue of Rs 10.38 billion for the first nine months of this fiscal.

The commercial revenue by Doordarshan and All India Radio during the nine-month period under review was Rs 7.48 billion and Rs 2.45 billion respectively while Rs 444 million came from ?other resources?.

For the fiscal ended March 2011, net revenue stood at Rs 12.71 billion (subject to reconciliation), of which Rs 9.44 billion came from DD and Rs 2.76 billion came from AIR as net commercial revenue. A total of Rs 505.8 million came from other resources.

Prasar Bharati?s operational costs during fiscal 2010-11 went up to Rs 27.45 billion, out of which Rs 14.69 billion was that of Doordarshan.

According to Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting S Jagathrakshakan, the increase in the operating cost can be attributed to the hike in the salary of employees following the 6th Pay Commission.

Jagathrakshakan also said a Group of Ministers had suggested financial restructuring of the Prasar Bharati and that all operating expenses should be borne by the Broadcasting body?s internal revenues.

The GoM also said that for the five years from 2011-12 to 2015-16, Government Non-Plan support would be extended for meeting the total expenses on salary and salary-related expenses and augmentation/replacement of capital assets.