Over 160 million watched Dooradarshan live telecast of Ram temple foundation stone-laying ceremony
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New Delhi : A record of 160 million people tuned in to watch the live telecast of the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, resulting in viewership of more than 7 billion viewing minutes across the TV universe in India, according to preliminary estimates by Prasar Bharati.
Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati said the viewership was of Doordarshan's live coverage was carried by nearly 200 TV channels during the main events between 10.45 am and 2 pm on Wednesday.
"Per preliminary estimates over 160 Million (16 crore) people watched the live telecast of the Ayodhya Ram Temple Bhumi Pujan ceremony, resulting in viewership of more than 7 billion viewing minutes across the TV universe in India," he said on Twitter.
Per preliminary estimates over 160 Million people watched the live telecast of the Ayodhya Ram Temple Bhumi Pujan ceremony, resulting in viewership of more than 7 billion viewing minutes across the TV universe in India.
— Shashi S Vempati (@shashidigital) August 7, 2020
Prasar Bharati had planned extensive coverage of the Ayodhya event. It had special live show from Ayodhya on the eve of the ceremony from the Saryu ghat apart from comntinous breaking coverage of events in Ayodhya from 6 am on the day of Bhoomi Pujan.
Prasar Bharathi has subsequently translated PM Modi's speech in multiple languages including Ladakhi, Odia, Kannada.
The extensive coverage came in for criticism from the Left parties which said it was inappropriate and unconstitutional for the state-run broadcaster to telecast live a religious event.