Modi likely to launch Sansad TV this month

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to launch Sansad TV, the integrated broadcaster of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha TV, this month, nearly two years after the plan was conceptualised, senior parliamentary officials familiar with the matter said on Friday.

The plan to set up Sansad TV was proposed by an expert committee headed by Prasar Bharati CEO Surya Prakash in 2019. It aimed at cutting costs, streamlining channel management, and rejigging content to make it attractive. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha TV are profit-making entities with advertisements primarily from public sector giants and central ministries.

“There is a possibility of PM inaugurating the TV channels as early as September 15. But definitely the channels will start running before October 2,” said a senior Lok Sabha official. Sansad TV will have two channels to ensure live streaming of both Houses when Parliament is in session. An RS official said, “The preparations for the channels are over and these are ready for launch. The authorities are waiting for time from the PM to launch the new channels.”

Officials said the RS TV establishment — that runs from a rented public property adjacent to Talkatora stadium — will be merged with LSTV’S infrastructure to create the new entity.

Former textiles secretary Ravi Kapoor has been appointed as the CEO of the new entity for one year, an internal order of the Lok Sabha secretariat said. “During the recess, the two channels would run current affairs programmes in English and Hindi as well as other programmes,” said a senior official.

“The integrated plan would be a major cost-saving exercise as RSTV shells out ₹10-12 crore on rent alone for its office and studio on Talkatora Road,” a senior official of the Rajya Sabha said.

Sansad TV will operate from Mahadev Road, and be managed by the Lok Sabha secretariat.