Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati is set to get a Rs 3,500 crore makeover including infrastructure upgrade and infusion of new content to counter anti-India propaganda along the border areas.

The proposal, cleared by the expenditure finance committee on Monday, also includes schemes like fresh programming content for Doordarshan and All India Radio, digitization of its terrestrial network and archives and expansion of DD's Direct-To-Home (DTH) network.

DD, with its 37 channels, enjoys viewership of nearly 3.5 crore people. The proposal, likely to be brought before the Union Cabinet, has devoted Rs 173 crore to upgrade of infrastructure in border areas. Of the 70-odd new transmitters proposed to be set up, eight will be along the Indo-Nepal and Indo-China border.

Sources said the conventional TV towers were under threat from terrorists or militant attack and so the public broadcaster planned to invest in digital satellite news gathering (DSNG) sets. DD is likely to get around 32 such sets which will allow for on-the-spot broadcasts.

The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry's proposal for creation of specific content for border towns to counter propaganda from neighbours has also received the go-ahead. An inter-ministerial committee under the cabinet secretary including representatives from ministries of home, external affairs and defence will advise Prasar Bharati in creating content specific for the region keeping in view the sensitivities and strategic importance.

"We have prioritized these initiatives to ensure that Prasar Bharati receives much-needed infusion of funds. The proposal will be placed before the Cabinet as soon as possible,'' a source said.

Both DD and AIR will be required to upgrade studios, use new media technologies and digitize their terrestrial network. Of the 1,415 analog transmitters, 630 will be digitized. There are also plans to digitize rare archival material that is in considerable disrepair.

DD has recently seen changes with both its prime-time and breakfast news revamped with new anchors and production teams.

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