[cr-india]Phased Out, But AIR Longs For Short Wave

[Alokesh Gupta]

Phased Out, But AIR Longs For Short Wave 
--------------------------------------------- 
Nivedita Mookerji 
 
New Delhi:  Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati is on a short wave splurge, contrary to international trends. Even as Prasar Bharati’s radio division—All India Radio—claims to be phasing out short wave (SW) transmission in keeping with government recommendations, its actions indicate otherwise. For instance, AIR installed five transmitters in short wave frequency a few months ago. Officials, however, reasoned that the “new strategy” on phasing out short wave came after orders were placed for these transmitters. Also, purchase of five short wave transmitters was part of the Ninth Plan project, they added. 
But that’s not the only short wave drive here. AIR National Channel was revived recently on short wave too. To top it all, AIR is now planning 24-hour news channels for Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Guwahati on short wave! Incidentally, the working group on the information and broadcasting sector for the Tenth Plan had recommended that short wave in analogue mode should be phased out, citing poor reception quality. While officially the word is that “existing transmitters are being used in the best possible manner till their life ends”, insiders are calling the exercise “meaningless”. 

AIR Seeks Global Tie-ups 
Even as AIR failed to strike a deal with BBC on content-sharing recently, now it is exploring other international arrangements. Preliminary talks are on with foreign broadcasters for giving them Indian transmitters on hire, sources said. 
In a related development, I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad pointed out that AIR is making all-out efforts to achieve the revenue target of Rs 126 crore for the current financial. He was speaking at a consultative committee meeting of the ministry on Wednesday. AIR earned revenues worth Rs 113.26 crore in 2002-03.
The longevity of a short wave transmitter is said to be around 15 years. AIR has 50 such transmitters, of which some have been around for 10 years or so. 
About its shopping spree, sources told eFE that five powerful short wave transmitters, 250 megawatt each, were purchased by AIR for its external service. 
While around Rs 35 crore was spent on these transmitters alone, the total project cost was Rs 100 crore. AIR external service caters to other countries including Pakistan and UAE. 
Of the five short wave transmitters procured for the external service, two were installed in Aligarh and three in Delhi. 
But, AIR insiders question the need for such expenditure. “There are no takers for short wave because of its poor reception quality,” one of them said. 
As per the Tenth Plan (2002-2007) document, there should be no expansion in shortwave. As for medium wave, the Plan document stated that expansion in this frequency should be limited to only strategic areas (read border areas). 
In the case of to-be-launched 24-hour news channels, AIR claims to be using “spare” short wave transmitters. In Mumbai and Guwahati, Vividh Bharati may be shut down on short wave, and news is likely to come instead. 
In Delhi and Chennai, news may replace regional channels on short wave. 
Doordarshan is still awaiting funds over Rs 100 crore to start its 24-hour news channel, preferably for pre-election launch. 
Also, even as the AIR National channel was revived (from nightly to 24-hour transmission) on short wave recently, there are no takers, admit officials. Reason: Wide coverage, but poor reception quality. 
On short wave, the channel is available through a 500-kw transmitter in Bangalore and a 250-kw one in Delhi. 
Earlier, listeners in India have been getting the National Channel on medium wave only. The transition from medium wave to short wave for the National Channel is in stark contrast to the world trend. Wide coverage up to 1000 km all through the day is what prompted the shift to short wave, Prasar Bharati officials explained. 
However, the disadvantages of short wave far outweigh its benefits. Second grade reception quality and non-availability of short wave receivers are among the reasons why analogue short wave is not of much use, a senior AIR official pointed out. Besides, no survey has been done to find out why short wave is needed.
(Financial Express - Aug 14,2003)

Regds,
Alokesh Gupta
New Delhi, India.