The review was necessitated by the fact that the channel lacks original programming and is drawing mainly from DD's arrangement with private channels.

Launched on January 26, 2000, this venture was conceptualised as a dream project for Prasar Bharati. Kashir was started mainly to fight the anti-India propaganda on PTV, but it has not made much progress in that direction, say officials. As there isn't much of original programming, the channel is unable to meet the objective of fighting international propaganda in a focussed manner.

Also, the channel was expected to give opportunity to local talent and integrate the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. On both counts, Kashir has not met the expected targets, say sources. In fact, at one point it was felt that the Kashir channel would be shut down. But, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ms Sushma Swaraj, gave an assurance that the channel would continue.

Towards the end of last year, a Prasar Bharati internal report pointed out that the Kashir channel did not have an impact the way it should have had and that it was not carrying out its full activities as per the original charter. It was around that time that Prasar Bharati decided to appoint former Principal Information Officer, Mr Ram Mohan Rao, as consultant for the Kashir channel to give it a direction.

There's another issue which is making the channel suffer, that of cash crunch. Non-delivery of promised funds for the channel is said to be a problem. In fact, a lot of proposals for the Kashir channel could not be processed for lack of money, say officials.