Public broadcaster DoorDarshan (DD), which has been in the process of digitizing its archives intends to create a website to sell DVDs of its archival content online. However, they may not sell footage online because of DRM concerns. DD is also planning to provide some of this content on its Video on Demand service when that launches. Indiantelevision.com has an extensive writeup on DDs efforts of digitization of content accumulated over 60 years, with around 250,000 programmes already archived. DVDs are already being sold at Rs. 395 each, CDs at Rs. 295 and audio cassettes at Rs. 195. They’ve apparently declined offers from private companies for collaboration.

SEE ALSO: Digitization Of DDs Archives; Who Owns The Archives?

Kamalini Dutt, Director of Archives might well say that they could make the content affordable at an affordable price for the public since all this content was made with public money, but Rs. 395 for a DVD isn’t really affordable now, is it? In comparison, the BBC had recently made archival content related to India and Pakistan available online for free, albeit for UK citizens only. Friends of mine in the UK who registered for the closed trial have been raving about it, and I can’t help but be envious (Grr). Some content is available, though not much.