Though Ministry sources strenuously defend this proposal saying editorial control will remain with Doordarshan officials, there is extreme scepticism about this being exercised. The news bulletins will be produced and anchored by ANI staff at DD's Central Production Centre, where a microwave link will be set up. The facilities will be provided free of cost to ANI, which has a contract with DD to provide footage.

After Mahajan's repeated questioning of privately produced news on DD, the Prasar Bharati board had also endorsed his move by giving TV Today's Aaj Tak an extension only as a current affairs programme. The privately-produced KhasKhabar on Calcutta Doordarshan, the only other anomaly to this newly-imposed rule so far, continues under litigation.

In a bid to ``professionalise'' and ``modernise'' Doordarshan's news set-up, Mahajan's team has also decided to revamp the newsroom with the help of BBC and Reuters. The revamping is expected to cover redesign of the newsroom, re-training of the staff and expansion of equipment.

This is proceeding apace with the plan to give DD Metro a facelift. Meetings have been held under the chairmanship of I&B Ministry Additional Secretary RR Shah to rationalise the commercial rates, change the programming and improve transmission. The aim is to convert DD Metro into a 24-hour entertainment network and stem the downward slide in Doordarshan's revenues, which declined by nearly Rs 100 crore over last year.

Shah is expected to take over as Acting CEO from OP Kejriwal, a move which has still not elicited a reaction from the Prasar Bharati board.