NEW DELHI: Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has cited the “lack of fresh content” and “inability to face competition from private channels” as primary reasons for a steady decline in the broadcaster’s revenue earnings in the 12th Plan period from 2012-2013 to 2017-2018.

Pulled up for tardy performance on several fronts by a parliamentary panel on information technology headed by BJP MP Anurag Thakur , the ministry of information and broadcasting and the public broadcaster cited a laundry list of reasons for its failure to shore up revenues and implement schemes the ministry had promised. The reasons cited for the steady decline in revenue earnings, however, have not cut ice with the panel.

The 51-member panel said, “The committee are not convinced with the reasons attributed to the shortfallas they fail to understand why any concrete action was not taken on theseissues.”

The panel objected to claims Prasar Bharati could outdo its targets in 2016-17 and 2017-18 on grounds this was done by “lowering targets” in comparison to previous years. In 2012-13, it earned Rs 1,134 crore against a Rs 1,422 crore target. In 2017-18, it earned Rs 977 crore against a reduced Rs 810 crore target.

