New Delhi: 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 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 B S 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.
-PTI
