http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=060761
Panaji DD to have new studio building soon NT NETWORK PANAJI: The new studio building coming up at the Panaji Doordarshan centre is expected to be completed within next three to four months, and would facilitate producing the in-house programmes of the centre on a larger scale. The centre director, Mr Chandrakant Barve, told The Navhind Times that the new studio is nearing completion with the construction of its approach road being presently undertaken. "As for the equipment," he added, "most of them have arrived and their alignment is in progress." "As you are aware, the existing studio is very small and we face lot of restrictions while producing in-house programmes," Mr Barve said, adding that the new spacious studio with a large floor area would help in erecting impressive sets, besides smoother movements for cameras. Mr Barve also informed that the Union ministry for information and broadcasting, this year, has provided more funds to the Panaji Doordarshan, including those under the engineering heads, which would provide a breathing space to the production staff. "The centre has also procured a direct satellite news gathering (DSNG) van, which is very useful in satellite uplink for live telecast of an event," he mentioned. Speaking further, the Panaji Doordarshan director said that telecast of daily Konkani news from the centre is still wishful thinking. "I have not received any official communication from the Union IB ministry regarding starting of a local news bulletin from this centre," he added. "In fact, news is altogether a different aspect in the Doordarshan centres demanding a separate section -- a news unit with strong staff including news correspondents, news editors, news readers, and so on," Mr Barve said, pointing out that currently there are only five non-technical staff members with the centre. I have also not demanded increase in the telecast timing -- currently Goa Doordarshan telecast programmes from 6 p.m to 7 p.m, and from 7.15 p.m to 7.30 p.m - as there are no programmes with us, which can be telecast during the longer duration, he stated. Replying to a question, Mr Barve observed that production of Konkani/ Marathi serials for Goa Doordarshan is not financially feasible to local producers since the sponsorship equations does not work for Goa as they do for Maharashtra, where the viewership is much much larger as compared to this state. "I have therefore suggested to the state government that just as it is financing the Konkani/ Marathi films selected by the screening committee, it should also finance quality serials for Goa Doordarshan so that the creative people from Goa can use their creativity to entertain the viewers from the state," he pointed out. Mr Barve also assured that the state doordarshan centre is willing to promote Konkani/ Marathi serials, if local producers make them available. Answering another question, Mr Barve, who has already produced award winning tele-films like Eka Haatachi Ladai, said that he wants to produce a docu-drama based on the life of the last Portuguese governor general, Vassalo da Silva, who avoided bloodshed during the military operation to liberate the region by ignoring the orders from Portugal. "I call his act international understanding," he added.
