"We are deploying digital technology in broadcasting this year," said PrasarBharati chief executive officer Rajeeva Ratna Shah.

Doordarshan plans to expand the digital transmission into 20 other citiesincluding Ahmedabad and Bangalore next year. The public broadcaster will bephasing out the entire analogue transmission by 2002.

As a move in this direction, DD has decided to stop buying analogueequipment from 2002. "Since an analogue equipment has a life of ten years,we will only purchase digital or digital upgradable equipment. We will beentirely on digital transmission by 2012," said BK De, engineer-in-chief,Doordarshan.

DD will be using the European Digital Video Broadcasting-T system. A coretechnical group had analysed the comparative tests conducted by Australiaand other countries but found the DVB-T system relevant to the Indianconditions.

The digital terrestrial broadcasting will revolutionise television viewingin the country, De said. It will allow DD to pack up 4-6 channels in onetransmitter while an analogue system allows for a single channel. Besides,the digital mode will allow DD to provide data (Internet) broadcasting andincrease the revenue inflow stream. The third benefit will be the mobilereception of television programmes. "DD Programmes can be received in busesand trains once we introduce digital transmission," De said.

Terrestrial broadcasters across the globe are converting into digitaltransmission. Networks in the US have fixed 2006 as the deadline while UKwill move entirely into the digital system by 2010. "In UK, there arecurrently 30 channels running which are catering to 75 per cent of thepopulation," De said.

While DD introduces digital service, the terrestrial network will also runin the analogue system. "We will have a simulcast service in the transitionperiod," De said. Customers, however, will have to invest in set-top boxes.DD plans to expand its metro channel coverage this year and 28 high powertransmitters are under implementation. "By the year-end, we will increasethe reach from 20 per cent to 45 per cent," De said. The primary channelcoverage is also being increased and 230 transmitters will be installedwithin two years.

DD plans TV-on-demand: Doordarshan is also planning to introduce the"Television-on-Demand" service soon. Developed by the research department ofDoordarshan and All India Radio, a test run is already on in Delhi. Theinteractive television service will include music albums-on-demand in thenetwork. The service will be carried out with a simple, cost effectivesystem with telephone lines as the interactive channel. "It will enable aviewer to select a song of his choice by requesting it over telephone. Itwill be a tool towards new revenue generating opportunities," De said.

The digitised and compressed video clips of the songs are stored in a videoserver in the broadcast studio. The software, along with a telephoneinterface, handles the incoming calls automatically and downloads the videoclips requested by the viewer for transmission.