NEW DELHI: As against a projection of Rs 3.5 billion, All India Radio earned a mere Rs 2.5387 billion through commercial means during 2011-12.

While admitting that AIR had failed to meet its projected target in any of the years of the Eleventh plan, Prasar Bharati sources also told radioandmusic.com that the projection for 2012-13 had provisionally been kept at Rs 3.5 billion.

AIR had earned Rs 2.5739 billion in 2010-11 against a projection of Rs 3.25 billion.

The commercial revenue vis-?-vis projection (in brackets) in the earlier years of the 11th plan was: 2007-08 - Rs 2.1651 billion (Rs 2.4349 billion); 2008-09 – Rs 1.9826 billion (Rs 2.8 billion); and 2009-2010 – Rs 2.0113 billion (Rs 3 billion).

It was pointed out that the gross revenue of All India Radio (including commercials) during the last five years had been: 2007-08 – Rs 2.892 billion; 2008-09 – Rs 2.916 billion; 2009-10 – Rs 3.0319 billion; 2010-11 – Rs 3.730 billion; and 2011-12 – Rs 3.597 billion.

The sources sought to argue that as Prasar Bharati was a public service broadcaster, it cannot be guided purely by commercial motives and revenue generation is not its main objective.

It was claimed that Radio has witnessed a gradual growth of revenue over the years. It reaches to the people living in far flung and remotest part of the country carrying the programmes and schemes being implemented by the Government for the welfare of the community.