Prasar Bharati under revenue pressure

           Prasar Bharati posted a net commercial revenue of Rs 10 billion for the fiscal ended 31 March 2009 while expenditure stood at Rs 23.44 billion, leaving a yawning uncovered gap of Rs 13.43 billion.Sources say Prasar Bharati, in addition, has an unpaid liability of Rs 10.71 billion as spectrum and space segment fee.The load on Prasar Bharati has increased as it faces pressure on its revenues from private TV channels and FM radio broadcasters

           Dooradarshan's gap between revenue and expenditure is widening. The pubcaster had clocked a revenue of Rs 7.37 billion in 2008-09, rising marginally from Rs 7.24 billion in the prior year, while expenditure increased to Rs 13.57 billion from Rs 10.52 billion in FY'08.

               The deficit is even worse for All India Radio (AIR) which has posted a net commercial revenue of Rs 1.94 billion for 2008-09 'on an expenditure of Rs 9.87 billion. Revenue for AIR, in fact, was higher at Rs 2.03 billion in FY'08 while expenses stood at Rs 9.79 billion.

               A matter of concern has been the progressive decline in revenues from sporting events. "The revenue from live telecast of cricket events is hardly enough to overcome the opportunity costs since Prasar Bharati has lost the exclusive rights from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for telecast of international matches played in India," says a source in the Information and Broadcasting ministry.