Prasar Bharti nods self-financed soaps

Prasar Bharati has approved a scheme of self financed commissioning under which the outside producers would be required to produce programmes at his own risk and cost, Information and Broadcasting Minister S Jaipal Reddy said on Monday.

Prasar Bharati has informed that Doordarshan would market the programme, telecast it and make payment thereafter, Reddy said.

Payment for the programme would be linked to its grading and viewership, he said adding that it is not presently being extended to documentaries.

The Indian Broadcasting Foundation has called for a ban on advertisements of defaulting advertisers like Samsung, Motorola and Reckitt Benckiser, Reddy said adding as a member broadcaster, Prasar Bharati would conform to the ban as long as it was effective.