Launch of DD's Arun Prabha put on hold

New Delhi: The ambitious plan of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to unveil a new dedicated channel for the Northeast, Arun Prabha, seems to have been put on hold.  Though the  proposal to launch DD Arun Prabha was announced in Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s first budget, it has faced several delays and is currently understood to be on the backburner.

Sources stated that though the channel was planned to be launched in January 2016 it has been put in cold storage indefinitely after several issues, including lack of funds and content generation plagued the launch of the channel.  The channel has already missed several deadlines for launch and was touted as one that aimed at promotion of integration of the Northeast with it expected to show richness, variety and diversity of local culture.      

The launch has been put on indefinite hold even as the Doordarshan had already received over 1,100 proposal from production houses across the country for content creation, sources added.  

The channel was supposed to focus on youth, contemporary entertainment and informative shows. Producers based in the Northeast and programmes on themes related to the region were likely to the given preference by the national broadcaster, however, with this indefinite delay their aspirations are likely to be hit adversely.

The proposed channel was the second for the region. Since the eight states in the

Northeast region follow multiple languages and dialects and have distinct cultural identities it is believed that two channels would be able to serve the regional aspirations better.

Sources stated that the existing DD Northeast is now likely to  be strengthened by introduction of new and better content. DD Northeast, telecasts entertainment and information-based programmes in Assamese, Bengali, English and other languages of the north-east region.