After around two years of, well, testing, Doordarshan is getting serious about its Mobile TV plans. The public sector broadcaster which enjoys exclusivity over terrestrial broadcasting in India, has put out a tender (Expression of Interest) for hiring a consultant for developing a public-private-partnership (PPP) model for digital broadcasting services. India is yet to finalize its Mobile TV policy. Complete Digitizalition By 2017; HDTV DD currently has about 1400 Analog TV transmitters, with a single TV being broadcast in service in 7 or 8 MHz bandwidth. The broadcaster has been given the mandate of complete digitalization of its terrestrial infrastructure by 2017, and cover the metro cities by 2010. This push for Mobile TV is keeping in mind the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which will be held between 3rd and 14th October in Delhi. The four metro cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai will also get HDTV Terrestrial transmission by 2010. Timeline 12.06.2009: Pre Bid Conference at 1100 hrs IST at Doordarshan Bhavan 12.08.2009: Last date for submission of offer document, by 1600hrs IST 13.08.2009: Offers are opened at 1500hrs Public Private Partnership Doordarshan is seeking inputs on both both DVB-H for mobile and DVB-T for digital terrestrial broadcasting, but the focus appears to be largely on DVB-H: Doordarshan seeks to retain control over the DVB-H trasmission service, and offer partners control over a majority of the transmitted channels on a revenue sharing basis. The prospective private broadcaster will have to invest on capital expenditure on transmitter, antenna and allied equipments, while DD will provide…
