DD plans to go mythological

India’s state broadcaster Doordarshan plans to revive telecasting of mega serials based on “Indian mythology and religions” to increase its TRPs and revenue. Once known for airing mega serials like Ramayan, Mahabharat and Krishna, the national broadcaster is soon likely to seek proposals for production of serials based on “Indian mythological” themes. Sources said that though Doordarshan used to telecast several such mega serials, which were also great money spinners were not aired in the past several years.

Prasar Bharati hopes by telecasting mega serials based on Indian mythology Doordarshan is expected to gain substantial revenue as there is a ready market for such serials.

It is learnt that the Prasar Bharati board is contemplating to enhance the commissioning fees of serials for the state broadcaster as under the prevailing rates attracting big production houses for mega serials are unlikely to show any interest.

The proposal is to hike the commissioning fee substantially for the producers so that the state broadcaster is able to attract big production houses for developing content. Last few years saw almost no such mega religious serials being aired by the channel as the commissioning fee was considered to be low, sources said. Though several private television channels have been trying to follow the Doordarshan formula of Indian mythology, they were unable to get the kind of following that the state broadcaster enjoyed.