The Commonwealth Games may be generating huge interest among the masses. Sadly though, the games official broadcaster, Doordarshan, has been unable to reach out to viewers. For, it has simply forgotten to make proper announcements and listings of the games schedule for the day or the next day. This isn’t all. DD has even failed to disseminate widely the information that the Commonwealth Games are being beamed “Live” on no less than five of its channels.
Sources stated that information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni is understood to have directed ministry officials to advise the national broadcaster on the issue. Ms Soni is understood to have asked for a mechanism to be put into place to inform the people regarding the important sports events.
Source pointed out that as Doordarshan operates an independent body under the Prasar Bharti Act the I&B ministry has no direct control over the broadcaster.
Doordarshan is telecasting various CWG events on DD Sports, National, Bharti, Urdu and its High Definition Channel. However, the broadcaster has failed to list the important sporting events of the day in which Indian athletes and sportsmen have medal winning prospects.
Sources stated that without a proper listing pattern of sports events being adopted by the national broadcaster, viewers have been left to channel surf to know what sports event is on at what time of the day. It was felt that the national broadcaster should create public awareness regarding these events by advertising widely the upcoming sports events on its channels as well as in the print media. It is also understood that the national broadcaster could have built on the high TRP ratings achieved by it during the inauguration ceremony and attracted more viewers to its channels. “even while telecasting the inauguration ceremony the national broadcaster decided to send a deferred feed instead of a live feed,” sources stated.