NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati earned revenue of just Rs 11.9525 billion during 2012-13 till January-end this year which is less than half of the operating cost of Rs 26.4276 billion.

During this period, the commercial revenue of Doordarshan was Rs 8.8493 billion as against All India Radio’s revenue of Rs 2.2715 billion, with Rs 1.0317 billion coming from other sources.

The operational cost of DD for the same period was Rs 14.4388 billion as against AIR’s Rs 11.9888 billion. .

In comparison, the figures for expenditure and revenue in the year 2011-12 were Rs 33.4057 billion and Rs 14.0954 billion, while in 2010-11 it was Rs 27.4504 billion and Rs 13.06 billion respectively.

Prasar Bharati sources said all these figures are provisional, subject to finalization.

Interestingly, the revenue from other sources was the highest in 2009-10 at Rs 1.4476 billion as against Rs 1.0417 billion in 2010-11 and Rs 1.2488 in 2011-12.

DD’s commercial revenue for the past three years was: Rs 8.3037 billion (2009-10), Rs 9.4444 billion (2010-11), and Rs 9.9076 billion (2011-12).

AIR's commercial revenue was Rs 2.0113 billion (2009-10), Rs 2.5739 billion (2010-11), and Rs 2.939 billion (2011-12).

The government had in September last year approved a Financial Restructuring package for Prasar Bharati comprising 100 per cent salary support for five years, waiver of accumulated government debt, space and spectrum charges etc.

Public broadcaster sources said that the increase in expenditure during the past few years has been primarily due to the implementation of various recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission, widening of travel entitlement, leave encashment, and modified assured career progression.