Cabinet gives go-ahead for Prasar Bharati's KU venture

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Finally, public broadcaster Prasar Bharati’s ambitious Ku Band TV
broadcasting project was cleared by the Cabinet committee on economic
affairs (CCEA). A provision of Rs 500 crore has been made during the Tenth
Plan for the venture, with Rs 35 crore allocated for 2003-2004.
Interestingly, it has been termed a pilot project. Regarding Prasar
Bharati’s Ku band venture, the total capital cost involved would be Rs 53.80
crore per annum, the revenue non-recurring expenditure is estimated at Rs
2.25 crore and revenue recurring cost at Rs 108.30 crore.

Even as it is targeted at far-flung areas which are not covered by TV
signals now, the states likely to benefit from the project are still under
wraps as per the directive issued by the Election Commission. This is in
view of the forthcoming elections. A Ku band viewer would need to buy a set
top box and a dish antenna for Rs 6,000. By paying this amount, he would be
able to access 20 Doordarshan channels and 10 private channels, all on
free-to-air mode. With around 84.7 per cent of the Indian population already
being covered by terrestrial TV, the Ku band venture is expected to cover
the rest.

Source:
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=44170