India's Broadcast Board Seeks HD Upgrade

The board members of Prasar Bharati, India's broadcasting corporation, which also provides public service broadcasts, recently asked India's national TV broadcaster, Dordarshan (DDI), if it would be possible to upgrade its transmission to HD by the start of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

According to the Press Trust of India, DDI in the past has indicated that it cannot cover the expenses of converting to HD coverage by itself. Subsequently, DDI has invited "expressions of interest" from organizations willing to help—and so far at least 10 foreign broadcasting organizations reportedly have responded to the call (apparently amid some objections by Prasar Bharati board members).

Prasar Bharati, which is about 12 years old, reportedly has given no indication it would help fund a national HD conversion. DDI still uses analog-based transmitters and airs no digital content of any kind, according to IJNet.

India is the world's largest democracy and second only to China in population, with an estimated 1.1 billion people.