DD Bangla invites fresh content proposals across genres

DD Bangla has invited fresh content proposals from reputed and credible producers and production houses for sponsored programmes to be telecast on the channel. The programmes will be independently produced and must comply with the Prasar Bharati Broadcasting and Commercial Codes, which are available online.

Producers can submit proposals across a wide range of genres, including documentaries, short films, fiction and docu-fiction, content on child and women empowerment, performing arts, travelogues or vlogs, current affairs, reality shows, animated content for children, as well as feature films and live events, said public broadcaster Prasar Bharati.

Under the sponsored programme scheme, outside producers can air their content on DD Bangla by paying a specified telecast fee to Prasar Bharati. In return, producers are entitled to a fixed commercial time per episode, which can be used to promote goods, services or brand images, in line with Prasar Bharati’s commercial guidelines.

Time slots in both prime time and non-prime time will be allotted based on availability and the requirements of the outside producers. After initial scrutiny of documents, shortlisted producers will be asked to submit 13 episodes or the complete content, whichever is less, on an external hard drive for evaluation by Doordarshan.

Once the agreement is signed, selected producers must submit all episodes or full content within one week of intimation. For weekly or bi-weekly programmes, a banking of at least 10 episodes (or full content) must be submitted one month before the first telecast. In case of multiple episodes per week, a banking of 22 episodes is required in advance.

Failure to submit content on time will attract a liquidated damage of ₹1,000 per day, regardless of the number of episodes delayed. If a producer fails to go on air after a slot is allotted, a limited extension of up to two weeks may be considered. Beyond that, the producer will have to compensate Prasar Bharati with 25% of the telecast fee for missed slots. Failure to go on air even after four weeks will result in forfeiture of the allotted slot.

As per the pricing structure, a 30-minute prime-time slot (7 pm to 11 pm) costs ₹7,000 for corporate sponsors and ₹22,500 for government or PSU sponsors. Non-prime-time slots are priced at ₹4,100 for corporate sponsors and ₹13,500 for government or PSU sponsors.

Producers are entitled to 240 seconds of free commercial time per episode, with additional commercial time charged at applicable spot buy rates.