Doordarshan Kendra in VIjayawada gets its bearings right

Though this studio was set up on the demand of the people of the region, not much was done for its betterment. As a result, it left the locals, who hoped for better coverage of news, events and culture, deeply disappointed. 

 

For decades, the Vijayawada DD studio continued to function as a transmitter of programmes produced by Hyderabad and Delhi DD studios. To retain the “studio” tag, it used to produce programmes of just half-an-hour duration per day. 

 

However, bifurcation of the state has turned into a blessing in disguise for the Kendra, as well as the people who had pinned hopes on it. 

After the division of the state, like many government institutions, Doordarshan was also split into two, Saptagiri for AP and Yadagiri for Telangana. 

 

The Saptagiri channel was launched amidst much fanfare in Vijayawada studio premises on September 27, with people like Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu attending the function. They assured complete cooperation in developing the Vijayawada studio into a full-fledged Kendra, one that can produce quality programmes round the clock. 

 

At that time this studio had less than 40 staff members and the infrastructure was also not adequate. However, within a span of just two months, it has seen dramatic changes, and is now cruising ahead by effective utilisation of manpower and infrastructure. The government’s budgetary allocations and emphasis helped this. 

Now, the duration of programmes produced here has increased to 16.30 hours per day (from 6 am to 10.30 pm). 

 

There are also plans for expansion of the studio, provision of better infrastructure, induction of staff and launching of novel programmes and game shows to reach more viewers, said the Kendra’s deputy director-general M. Sailaja Suman. 

 

Ms Suman said that as per their policy of infotainment, the Kendra is producing more news bulletins, programmes on spiritual, tourism, health, legal, agriculture, dairy, serials and reality shows. 

“Very soon we plan to launch ‘Mukhamukhi (phone in)’ with CM, ministers and higher officials,” she said.