DD bending backwards with quake coverage to appease Sushma

DD bending backwards with quake coverage to appease Sushma
Express News Service

New Delhi, Feb 2: A day after Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj enquired into Doordarshan's near-blackout of the Gujarat earthquake on January 26, the Public Broadcaster has gone on an overdrive with special update on the quake every half-hour on its main channel and its news channels.

While officials admitted that it would require juggling around with regular programmes currently on air, it is understood that the shuffling is purely temporary.

The Minister had enquired into the matter after reports pointed out to DD's near miss.

DD's News channel, available on cable, did put out a flash at 9 am, but the main channel woke up to the news only after the Republic Parade was over. ``Even after private channels started fleshing out more details about the quake, DD's main channel countinued with its schedule,'' sources said.

DD officials said that with most of the senior officials away, attending the Republic Day Parade, there was no one to take a decision on the coverage.

Ironically, DD failed to cash in on its exclusive coverage from its Ahmedabad relay centre even as private broadcasters like Star and ZEE helped themselves to DD's footage.