Report from Doordarshan sought on disruption during PM's press meet.

                The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has sought a report from Doordarshan on the brief disruption during the live telecast of prime minister Manmohan Singh's press conference yesterday.

              A senior ministry official said a report from DD bosses have been sought and it is expected to reach I&B minister Ambika Soni soon.Director General Doordarshan Aruna Sharma said, "A preliminary report from DD's Chief Engineer had been submitted to me yesterday. However, a final draft will be ready soon."  She said once finalised, the report would be sent to the ministry.

              Yesterday (24-05-10) when the PM's press conference was being telecast live by DD (the only channel to do so), a minor fire in DD's OB (outside broadcast) van led to 181-second disruption.Though the fire was immediately put out and the telecast resumed after a change in the transmission mode was effected, the disruption marred an otherwise smooth telecast.

               DD sources said Prasar Bharati CEO BS Lalli, who was also present during the press conference, himself had sought a report into the incident yesterday itself as the disruption left quite a few red faces among DD's top brass.Even Soni while directing I&B secretary Raghu Menon to look into the incident, had described it as a "serious matter".

              Sharma said "I have also sought details of past glitches to ensure that such a thing never happens again." On August 15, 2008 during the telecast of prime minister's address to the nation there was some snag while earlier this year, DD could not carry PM's reaction to the Union Budget again due to technical disruption.

             Sources in the ministry said with the DD being the host broadcaster for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, such incidents raise questions about its level of preparedness for "big" events.

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