National broadcaster Doordarshan has invited fresh sealed tenders to market and distribute DD-World and DD-News channel in the UK and rest of Europe on the DTH platform and cable networks.

The national broadcaster has set 28 August as the deadline by which the tenders should reach the Controller of Programmes, DD-World Channel. These will then be opened on 29 August at 3.00 PM, Doordardshan Bhawan, New Delhi, in the presence of the representatives of the parties.

The applicant whose tender is accepted will have to sign an agreement with Doordarshan within 30 days of receiving the award letter, failing which the next highest bidder will be awarded the contract.

According to the tender document, both the channels DD-World and DD-News are transmitted as digital multiplex in the compressed mode through the PAS-4 satellite (currently in the process of switching to PAS-10, the process is expected to be complete by end-August). The signals of these channels are downlinked in London by British Telecom. DD-World and DD-News transmission can be encrypted at Delhi end for uplink to PAS-4.

Meanwhile, the programme composition of DD-World as per the Fixed Point Chart (FPC) are: Entertainment / Feature Films/ Film based programmes / Serials / Music and Dance / Cookery shows / Travelogues / Documentaries / Children‘s programmes / Women programmes / News & Current Affairs, etc.

And for DD-News: News / Current Affairs / Documentaries.

As per the tender document available on www.ddindia.net, the prospective bidder will have to pay a non-refundable processing fee of ?250 and an earnest money deposit of ?1000 in the form of a crossed bank draft drawn in favour of PBBCI, Directorate General, Doordarshan, New Delhi, payable at any bank in New Delhi. (Indian parties can pay the fee in Indian Rupees equivalent to pound Sterling).

The bidder will also have to submit an audited account indicating its turnover for the past three years. Foreign parties can obtain more details from Indian High Commission in UK. Indian Parties can obtain such details from Doordarshan Kendra, Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai. The tender documents can be downloaded Doordarshan‘s website at http://www.ddindia.net.