Veteran Programmers in Prasar Bharati Cry Foul- Experience Ignored, Engineers Favoured in Creative Roles

Senior content professionals in India’s public broadcasting giant, Prasar Bharati, have raised grave concerns over systemic favouritism, skewed promotional practices, and the marginalization of experienced programming staff.
Despite three decades of dedicated service, many senior government employees – gazetted officers who joined Prasar Bharati after long government careers are being ignored over for promotions. Instead, junior recruits—with far less age, experience, and skill—are fast-tracked into leadership positions.
“Content is the backbone of broadcasting. Yet, programmers—who build and breathe life into AIR and Doordarshan—are being pushed to the sidelines, reporting to engineers with no interest in creative programming and interested in outsourcing content leading to high expenses and poor revenues” said a senior official, on condition of anonymity.
Issues-
• Engineers occupying senior content posts without background and passion for programming.
• Retired officials being rehired (so called young blood) as consultants, blocking advancement opportunities for serving employees and doling out hefty fees.
• Experience disregarded, as junior staff leapfrog over seasoned veterans in career growth.
• Erosion of creative autonomy, with content teams dominated by technical leadership.
The discontent is brewing across regional and national stations of AIR and Doordarshan, as veteran programmers feel stifled, ignored, and disrespected—despite being the creative pulse behind iconic programming that has served the nation for decades.
“Public broadcasting was built on values, vision, and voices that replicated India. If we continue to demoralize content creators, we risk losing the soul of our national media,” said a retired director of programming.
What the Community Demands-
1. Transparent and merit-based promotions recognizing content professionals’ contributions.
2. Creative leadership to be given to programmers, not technical staff unfamiliar with media.
3. Clear limits on consultant appointments post-retirement for fair internal career growth.
4. Respect for seniority and expertise, ensuring no veteran is made to report to junior officers.
The employees call upon the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Board of Prasar Bharati to take urgent cognizance of these issues and initiate reforms that reinforces the ethos of public service broadcasting in India.