[cr-india] DXERS GUIDE Edition 03++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[sakthi vel]

DXERS GUIDE Edition
03+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WEEKLY DX ONLINE
NET+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PUBLISHED BY ARDIC DX
CLUB+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FOR MORE DETAILS READ ‘DXERS GUIDE’ PRINTED
VERSION++++


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Ficci suggests fine-tuning of FM radio policy 


 The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (Ficci) has suggested removal of anomalies
and glitches in the policy on expansion of FM radio
broadcasting services through private channels. It has
suggested modifications in the eligibility criteria;
norms for calculation of revenues; time frame for
transfer of shares; and co-location of transmission
facilities. 
The industry body has pointed out that the norms for
bidding and obtaining permission for FM radio channels
imply that for a particular group of companies only
one company is allowed to bid for the available
frequencies all over India. This would result in
difficulties in implementation. 
For instance, a group company is operating through
three different individual companies for its three
stations at three different cities. Any further bid
for licences in other stations through any one of
these individual companies would disqualify the other
two individual companies. 
It has also pointed out that the net worth requirement
should be changed to paid-up capital requirement. It
would become very difficult to adhere to the net worth
requirement for the existing companies who have
suffered heavy losses. For net worth/paid-up capital
in case of newly incorporated company, the current cut
off is March 31, 2005. 
In case of new entrants, this should be relaxed and
the entrant should be eligible if one demonstrates the
prescribed net worth/paid-up capital while
bidding.[The Financial Express August 19, 2005 ]

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Pay-hike strike hits DD and AIR routine 

An eight-day-long strike by the administrative staff
of the Doordarshan and Akashvani, to press for a hike
in salary, has thrown the broadcasting and airing
schedule awry in the state.
Confirming the news, director of Akashvani in Ranchi,
Virendra Kumar Sukla, said: “Although there is routine
airing of programmes, the recording of advance
programmes has been affected. Many programmes have to
approved by the administrative personnel according to
the norms.” 
According to him, the programmes would have to be
rescheduled in state if the agitation continued for
another week.
“There are varieties of programmes, which are aired
after local recording. Such recordings has been
restrained to great extent,” he explained. 
All India Radio and Doordarshan Administrative
Workers’ Staff Association has called a the
nation-wide strike, demanding that their pay scale be
made on a par with the scale of the engineering and
programme cell of the Prasar Bharti-run media. 
The Jharkhand wing of the association, including the
Jamshedpur unit, had started the mass agitation since
August 10. 
They plan to continue the strike for the whole month.
Their bone of contention — while the pay-scale hike
for the engineers and programme personnel ranged
between Rs 6,500 and Rs 10,500, the administrative
officials’ pay scale hovered between Rs 5,500 and Rs
9,900. 
Earlier, both were in the same pay scaleJamshepur unit
secretary of the association, N.K. Venkatraman, said
the administrative staff had been agitating for a good
number of days according to instructions of the parent
association. 
“The agitation has directly affected the broadcast and
airing of outside programmes in East Singhbhum
district. The studio has apparently stopped inviting
artistes from various walks of life to perform,”
Venkatraman told The Telegraph.
He explained that each studio of the Doordarshan and
the Akasvani, spread across the districts, prepared
programmes related to sports, agriculture, folk songs
and other community-based programmes with the help of
local persons. 
“Artistes and presenters are paid for their
contribution. Now this cannot be held,” Venkatraman
said. [The Telegraph OUR CORRESPONDENT 
Jamshedpur, Aug. 18]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


New Radio Rules To Make The Medium More Indian 

Rupert Murdoch had recently said that he would be
interested in entering Indian FM radio space in a big
way if the rules are conducive. But it doesn't look
like the things are going the way he wanted. 
According to the Business Standard story, "the single
largest shareholder in a private FM radio company in
India will have to own at least 50 per cent of the
paid-up equity. The shareholder will also have to be
an Indian entity for bringing in foreign equity. This
has been incorporated in the bid document, yet to be
released, to make sure Indian entities control FM
radio companies. But this condition will not apply for
banks and other lending institutions holding majority
stake in a company." 
The government has also decided to allow only resident
Indians as directors on the boards of FM radio
companies. Observers say this is likely to hamper
foreign investment in the sector. FM radio companies
point out that when a foreign company invests in an
entity, it will prefer to have its own representative
on the board. [Business Standard by S Karat at 12:58AM
(EDT) on August 18, 2005]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 
FM radio to be Indian, by Indian

Single largest shareholder should own at least 50% of
the paid-up equity. 

The single largest shareholder in a private FM radio
company in India will have to own at least 50 per cent
of the paid-up equity. The shareholder will also have
to be an Indian entity for bringing in foreign equity.


This has been incorporated in the bid document, yet to
be released, to make sure Indian entities control FM
radio companies. But this condition will not apply for
banks and other lending institutions holding majority
stake in a company. 

The government has also decided to allow only resident
Indians as directors on the boards of FM radio
companies. Observers say this is likely to hamper
foreign investment in the sector. FM radio companies
point out that when a foreign company invests in an
entity, it will prefer to have its own representative
on the board. 

Foreign shareholders will also have no say in the
management of FM radio companies in India. This is
because the government wants only the majority
shareholder to exercise management control over an FM
radio company. 

Besides, FM radio companies will not be permitted to
change the ownership of the major shareholder without
government permission. 

In addition, during the licence period, if the
government comes out with a policy on cross-media
ownership, the licence holder will have to conform to
the revised guidelines within a period of six months. 

Private FM radio companies that want to set up
stations in all cities will have to have a minimum net
worth of Rs 10 crore. 

If a company wants to start a radio station in a
metro, the minimum networth required per channel will
be Rs 3 crore. This condition is aimed at preventing
non-serious players from entering the sector. 

For category B cities, which are mid-sized cities, the
minimum networth per radio station will be Rs 2 crore
and for small cities, it has been capped at Rs 1
crore. In the case of smaller cities, the minimum
networth will be Rs 50 lakh. 

Companies will be allowed to run only one channel in
each city but they will not be permitted to air news
and current affairs programmes on FM channels. 


NO MELODY THIS 

The shareholder will have to be an Indian entity for
bringing in foreign equity Only resident Indians to be
allowed as directors on the boards of FM radio
companies Observers say foreign investment in the
sector is likely to be hampered [Business Standars by
Bipin Chandran / New Delhi August 18, 2005]



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

WorldSpace still has a way to go


Apart from the fact that FM’s free and portable and
poses a stiff challenge, the choice of WorldSpace
receivers is even poorer than it was earlier. 

When we requested the PR company handling WorldSpace
whether they could provide us the various satellite
radios that are available in the country in order to
test them, the answer was a diplomatic no. 

So, we did the next best — went to WorldSpace dealers.
This didn’t help too much either since the two dealers
we visited in Delhi didn’t have all the models, and
some of the ones they had weren’t working since
company executives in Bangalore needed to key in a
password which hadn’t been done. 

But let’s forget the problems, what is WordSpace all
about? It’s a global satellite radio service which
offers an amazing array of programs, through a
compatible satellite radio with a special antenna
which has to be installed outside the house and must
have a free line of site to the satellite without any
trees or walls in between. 

In other words, your old radio’s not good enough if
you want to hear what Worldspace has to offer. 

Worldspace is not new to India and in its earlier
avatar, it was a free channel — all you needed then
was a satellite receiver and the cheapest one, a
Hitachi, was available for Rs 4,999. It didn’t quite
catch the fancy of listeners then, and curiously, it
has been relaunched again as a pay channel. 

So, apart from the cost of the radio, you have to pay
Rs 1,800 a year to be able to hear over 39 different
stations. The company does not give out figures of its
subscriber base. 

When it was a free service, WorldSpace was a blast,
and offered music ranging from western to country,
jazz, western classical, hip hop, you name it. There
were even a few Hindi and local language channels. 

Today, with FM in full blast, and virtually everything
available on the net, the non-portable WorldSpace
doesn’t look as great. Though it must be said, it
offers an interesting array in its 39 stations. 

Apart from the earlier choices, you have Farishta for
old Hindi songs, and even Kannada, Telegu, and Bengali
channels, Bollywood hits, and Hindi classical music.
For those who want to listen to news (something you
can’t get on FM) you have an array of choices, from
NDTV to BBC and CNN WRN. 

While that’s incentive enough for some to want to
still buy WorldSpace, there’s another problem, that of
a limited number of receiver sets. 

You have just four in the market right now, and none
of them are international brand names to reckon with,
they’re either local or Chinese and Indonesian.
Earlier, in the previous incarnation of Worldspace you
could choose between Hitachi, Panasonic, Sanyo and
JVC. 

BPL Diva: The cheapest radio offering of course comes
from BPL. The Diva comes with a remote control, stereo
line out, 10 channel pre-set facility, but needs to be
attached to a speaker or your stereo system, which is
what I used to do with my Hitachi receiver (even
though it had a speaker) to get better quality sound. 

To do that, you only need a cable to attach the radio
to the auxillary connection of the stereo. The system
costs Rs 5,590 (if you buy it from the company) and Rs
6,090 if you get it from a dealer. It comes bundled
with one year subscription. 

There could be some disturbance in the station
occasionally due to interference from unwanted signals
near the Worldspace frequency, but this can be
resolved by buying a interference filter or a higher
antenna. 

BPL Celeste: The other BPL option, the Celeste, is a
satellite radio which comes with a cassette-player and
recorder, offers you a 3-band radio which includes FM,
short wave and medium wave too. 

It has 70 watts of music power and ten pre-set memory
stations were you can store your favourite Worldspace
stations. The sound quality is quite ordinary, but you
can always connect it to your stereo for better
quality sound. 

The price is Rs 6,790 if you buy it from the company,
and Rs 7,150 if you buy it from a dealer. And this
also comes bundled with one year subscription free. 

Chinese options are available as well, and are useful
if you wish to listen to the radio on the PC/laptop. I
asked the WorldSpace sales team why the Tongshi (the
Chinese radio) is so expensive (Rs 10,600 from the
company and Rs 11,800 at the dealers’), especially as
it will need to be connected to a speaker to listen
to. 

He tells me that it is slick looking, light weight
(168 grams), has 12 pre-set buttons, boasts of a two
line LCD display and runs on only two pencil cells. It
also has a remote control and a USB port so that you
can connect it to the laptop/PC. 

If made in Indonesia does not bother you, there is
another choice. The Polytron, like the Celeste, is
also a cassette and a tape player. It has a 10 memory
presets, for fast access to your favourite channels
and a last channel memory recall. Like the Celeste, it
has a stereo output for an external amplifier. 

But it only has an AM and FM channel, a 5 channel
graphic equaliser and both karaoke and Bazzoke
functions as well. It costs Rs 7,850 with one year
subscription bundled in. Happy listening. 

Business Standard by Surajeet Das Gupta / New Delhi
August 19, 2005

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Delhiites get two community radio stations

Residents of south Delhi can now make themselves heard
as they the Indian Institute of Mass Communication
(IIMC) is about to begin its own community radio
channel within the next two weeks. The Jamia Milia
University was the first to set up such a project in
Delhi two months ago. 

The FM channel, to be aired on a frequency of 96.9
MHz, will span a 10-km area around the IIMC campus and
will cover Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
University's South Campus, IIT and adjoining areas. 

"The basic concept behind this venture is to inform
the underdog. Therefore, we will have programmes on
health, legal aid... apart from talks, features and
music. And the music will also be our own, whether
it's a local music band or some folk music by slum
dwellers", S .Raghavachari, professor of Broadcast
Journalism at IIMC, said. 

Students of Delhi University's Kamla Nehru College
have already prepared a programme on road safety;
there is one on the problems faced by rickshaw pullers
and another on monsoon festivals and the Taj Mahal.
College principal Minoti Chatterjee says her students
have been given a half-an-hour slot on the channel. 

Some programmes have educative as well as
entertainment value like the one on varieties of
music. Slum dwellers can educate the community about
various kinds of folk music and the residents can tell
us about the water or electricity problems in the
area, Professor Hemant Joshi, one of the project
co-ordinators, said. 

IIMC's Prof Raghavachari says: "With two offline and
one online studio, we have infrastructure which is
more than enough to start a radio channel at this
level. Our editing system is also digital and another
customised software developed by Broadcasting
Engineering Corporation of India Limited. Soon we will
also have a radio OB van too." 

Two-way communication programmes are what distinguish
community radio from All India Radio. "We do not want
to sit on an ivory tower and teach people, the way it
is with AIR. Neither is it a commercial venture like
other FM channels. It's simply providing a platform to
the people to come up with their problems and find
their own solutions," Raghavachari said. 

The channel, which will be on air initially for two
hours only, plans to involve the Resident Welfare
Associations (RWAs) also. "If we have to keep it
running, we better be cautious in the beginning," the
professor said. 
[mailto:rahul.kumar at oneworld.net]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Government rejects dismantling of autonomous Prasar
Bharati Indiantelevision.com Team 
(22 August 2005 10:00 pm)
NEW DELHI: A section of the government today ruled out
dismantling of the autonomous Prasar Bharati as has
been demanded by the organisation's employees' union.

Though information and broadcasting minister Jaipal
Reddy today refused to comment on the demand of the
union, but sources in the ministry indicated that such
ludicrous demands would not be entertained.

"There would be no rollback of Prasar Bharati," a
senior official of the I&B ministry said, adding that
some of the demands of the employees' union are being
looked into.
Prasar Bharati, which manages Doordarshan and All
India Radio, was formally given shape by Reddy only
when he was the I&B minister in the United Front
government in the late 1990s.
Employees of Prasar Bharati had demanded an immediate
repeal of the Prasar Bharati Act as it was "totally
unviable" in the present form and exhorted the
government to take them back into government fold
(with privileges that come attached with a government
service, of course).
Members of the National Federation of Akashvani and
Doordarshan Employees (NFADE) met the Prime Minister
on 13 August with its demands. Later, the union
claimed that assurances of setting up a group of
ministers (GoM) were given by the PM.
According to NFADE chairman Robin Dasgupta, the
government could not disown the employees of Prasar
Bharati.
He also suggested that Prasar Bharati should be made
into a constitutional body like the Supreme Court and
Election Commission as it would ensure financial
support to the body from the Consolidated Fund of
India.[Indiantelevision.com 22 August 2005 10:00 pm
NEW DELHI]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

On Air Personalities Bring Home the HIV Message to
Youth in India
 (August 22, 2005) Internews is encouraging popular
radio and TV jockeys in India to reach out to their
listeners with messages about HIV/AIDS. Through an
initiative called “Young Voices,” which included two
workshops held July 25 – August 7, Internews trained
young DJs and presenters from Tamil and
English-language community, state and private radio
and television stations to talk about HIV/AIDS in a
way that would appeal to their young audiences.
In India, where nearly half a billion people are below
the age of 25 years, 45% of all new HIV infections are
among youth aged 15 to 25 years. Yet very few young
people see themselves as vulnerable, and many still
harbor misconceptions about how the virus is
transmitted and prevented. 
“No Idea,” a popular music band from Tamil Nadu that
won an award for their AIDS awareness song at the
Great Indian Rock Festival, also participated. By the
end of the training the band had composed a new song
titled, “A Better Life,” that speaks to young people
about the importance of HIV testing and safer
behaviors. They will perform it on their European tour
later this year.
The workshops, which were held in Chennai at two
campus community radio stations, included personal
interaction with people living with HIV from the
Positive Women’s Network. The participants also
visited a shelter for children orphaned by AIDS and a
hospital providing HIV counseling, testing and
treatment for people living with HIV. 
Celebrity MTV Video Jockey and UNICEF’s Youth
Ambassador for HIV/AIDS Cyrus Broacha spoke to the
participants about their role in reaching young people
with messages on safer sex. “There is no point in
being preachy with youngsters,” he told the
participants. “What they should understand is that
they might be next.” 
The training helped the radio and TV jockeys clarify
the myths and misperceptions about HIV that exist
among young people as well as to talk comfortably
about voluntary confidential counseling and HIV
testing (VCCT) and safer behavior. The participants
produced nearly two dozen jingles on HIV issues within
their week of training. Participants also honed their
technical, writing and presenting skills.
The trainings were conducted by internationally known
DJ Georges Collinet, Internews Health Advisor Jaya
Shreedhar and Götz Buerki, technical radio trainer
from Deutsche Welle, Germany. 
Radio Jockey Basumani from All India Radio was
enthusiastic about the experience. “Every DJ should
attend this type of workshop and learn more about
HIV/AIDS. Now we have more confidence to do radio
programs relevant to AIDS.”

“I have been enlightened on presenting on radio, being
frank and presenting jingles in an interesting, snappy
and attractive manner,” said Meera Meenakshi of Anna
FM, “plus I learned to make the best sound recording I
have ever done.” 
One participant has decided to dedicate the first five
minutes of his popular TV show to talk about HIV/AIDS
for the next six weeks. Another participant from Jaya
TV convinced his editor to devote an entire episode of
the popular game show “The Jackpot Show” to AIDS. The
episode has already taped and will be broadcast during
the week leading up to World AIDS Day. One of the
radio jockey participants is planning an hour long
radio program on young people and HIV which will
feature “No Idea” performing their new AIDS song. 
The MOP Campus Radio Station has also recorded the
first episode of a series on AIDS and young people,
incorporating the interviews conducted by the trainees
during the workshops.
The ‘Young Voices’ training workshops were part of the
MEDIAIDS project co-funded by the European Union
through the Europe-India European Union – India
Economic Cross Cultural Programme and were locally
supported by UNICEF. The MEDIAIDS project is managed
by Internews Europe in partnership with the
Delhi-based Foundation for Responsible Media
(ForMedia) and Deutsche Welle Akademie (Germany).

FOR MORE INFORMATION
MEDIAIDS 
Alix Francoise, MEDIAIDS Programme Manager (Internews
Europe) 
Neelima Mathur, MEDIAIDS Project Manager, India 
Dr. Jaya Shreedhar, Internews Technical Health Advisor

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

61 AIR stations to be digitalised 

Wednesday, August 24, 2005 at 0000 hours IST NEW
DELHI, AUG 23: The information and broadcasting
ministry will spend Rs 196 crore for the full
digitalisation of 10 DD studio centres and 61 All
India Radio (AIR) stations. According to I&B minister
S Jaipal Reddy, currently 9 DD studio centres and 79
radio centres are fully digitalised. "During 2005-06
and 2006-07 ten DD studio centres are targeted to be
fully digitalised and 22 partially digitalised at a
cost of Rs 164 crore," Mr Reddy said. The government
will spend Rs 31.91 crore for the complete
digitalisation of 61 AIR radio centres, he said in
Parliament in response to a question. 

(excerpts from a report published in Financial Express
Wednesday, August 24, 2005 at 0000 hours IST NEW
DELHI, AUG 23) 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SECOND PHASE OF PRIVATE FM RADIO TO GET OPERATIONAL
SOON PARLIAMENTARY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE OF I&B
MINISTRY MEETS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---- 15:0 IST The Consultative Committee attached to
the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Culture
today deliberated on the issue of Private FM Radio
Stations, which are slated to come out during the
second phase of FM radio. The members were apprised
that the guidelines related to tender floatation were
at the advanced stage of preparation and notification
for inviting the tenders would be coming out very
soon. Minister of Information & Broadcasting and
Culture, Shri S. Jaipal Reddy, who chaired the meeting
said that Government's emphasis in this phase is on
expansion of the FM radio network, and not
profitability. Measures have been put in place to
tackle the stumbling blocks faced during the first
phase, to ensure a smooth sailing, he added. The
Minister apprised the members of the improvements
related to licence fee, ownership of number of
channels, eligibility criteria, bidder capability and
networking etc., introduced in the phase II to make
the ventures viable for both the Government as well as
prospective players. He said that effort had been made
to ensure that litigation is kept at bay by
deliberating broad issues with the concerned interest
groups before the guidelines were finalized. The
experience of the first phase was kept in view in
drafting guidelines for the next phase. 336 private FM
radio stations in 90 cities are to be put for bidding
in the second phase. Some of the members expressed
concern over the mandatory sharing of Prasar Bharati
infrastructure by the private players. The Minister
said that co-location was imperative to ensure
non-congestion of spectrum space. Also it would save
time and reduce financial burden of the private
operators. The members felt that with the steps taken
to preclude non-serious bidders, the phase II of
private FM radio stations is expected to be a success.
Those who attended the meeting included, S/Shri Kirip
Chaliha, Dinsha Patel, S. Mallikarjunaiah, Hannan
Mollah, S. Sudhakar Reddy, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Ramdas
Athawale, P.K. Maheshwari, Vijay J. Darda, E.M.
Sudarsana Natchiappan, Ajay Maroo and Dr. S. Jatiya
all MPs, Shri S.K. Arora, Secretary, Ministry of
Information & Broadcasting and other senior officers
of the I&B Ministry. RS/AS
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=11482 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


A Million Dollar Idea By Vinaya Kasajoo 

An old man, who had nothing financial to give to his
local community radio, contributed an idea, which
proved to be a milestone for the sustainability of the
radio and at the same time enhanced community
ownership and involvement in the station. Last year,
Community Radio Madanpokhara (CRM) honored 75-year-old
Tuk Lal Khati for his long lasting and valuable
contribution. He was awarded with a letter of
appreciation and a radio set. Tuk Lal’s
million-dollar idea is now generating a substantial
amount of money for CRM. Community Radio Madanpokhara
is one of Nepal’s first community radio stations.
Officially, Madanpokhara Village Development Committee
(VDC) is the license holder of the station, but in
practice it is owned, controlled and managed by the
community. The station uses different methods to
mobilize community members’ involvement in the
programming and policies of the station. One way is to
organize meetings to motivate villagers to speak about
the radio programmes and to give the opportunity to
criticise, evaluate and advise the station. At one
such meeting in the Bandipokhara VDC, Som Nath Aryal,
the facilitator, requested the meeting participants to
suggest how the people could contribute to the
station. Dozens of suggestions poured in from
different people. At one corner an old man was leaning
over his staff and listening quietly. When Som Nath
requested the old man, Tuk Lal Khati, to give his
suggestion Tuk Lal declined, saying that many
suggestions have already come from educated people.
How could an old and uneducated man like him give a
useful suggestion? At that point Som Nath started to
tell Tuk Lal a story about an old lady whose one
sentence had changed the destiny of a businessman.
Before he could finish his story the old man stood up
suddenly and spoke in a commanding voice: "Since the
radio station has become our mind, heart and mouth we
must help it with all means – mind, money and labour
– till it speaks our voice. However, I do not have
money to give to the station. But I have an idea,
which can be useful for generating income for the
station. Let every household set aside a handful of
rice from their daily consumption and give it to the
station". Som Nath put Tuk Lal’s suggestion to
CRM’s board of directors who called a meeting of
representatives of 23 villages in CRM’s listening
area. The meeting appreciated the idea and decided to
apply it immediately in their respective villages
through the network of local listeners’ clubs. In
the following two months, listeners’ clubs collected
the rice and equivalent money from households in
villages across the station’s listening area. They
kept some portion of the funds raised for their own
local activities and sent 25-80 percent of the
collected amount to the station. In total CRM received
over Nepali Rupees. 50,000 (approximately USD 650).
Funds raised through villagers’ donation of rice now
represent a significant percentage of CRM’s budget.
After mobilizing over 90 local listeners clubs as part
of the campaign, the amount is expected to cross USD
4000 annually. The contribution of the people in cash
and kind has benefited the station and the radio
listeners clubs in various ways. It has improved the
sustainability of the station in long run. It has also
contributed to increasing the listeners’ sense of
ownership and responsibility over the radio station.
They now feel that they have more authority in
decision-making about programming and policy of the
station. At the same time, the radio clubs have also
been able to expand and strengthen their social,
cultural and advocacy activities. At a time of
increasing media commercialisation and globalisation,
Tuk Lal’s simple idea for Community Radio
Madanpokhara shows us a practical way to increase
local participation in and sustainability of local
community radio. -------------------------------------
Vinaya Kasajoo is a senior journalist in Kathmandu and
a long-time supporter of Community Radio Madanpokhara.
He can be reached at vinaya at wlink.com.np. ** Thanks to
Partha of Bytesforall.org for forwarding this! FN --
-------------------------------------------------------------
Frederick 'FN' Noronha | fred at bytesforall.org
Independent Journalist | http://fn.swiki.net Goa,
India | +91(832)2409490 Cell 9822122436
-------------------------------------------------------------
1995-2005: Ten years of waiting for community radio in
India! To know more:
https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/cr-india 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

AIR GOES DIGITAL, NEW PREMISES INAUGURATED 

NO COMPROMISE ON STATUS OF PRASAR BHARATI STAFF -
REDDY 
	
	

Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Shri S.
Jaipal Reddy today inaugurated the New Broadcasting
House and Doordarshan Bhawan Tower B. The
state-of-the-art studios and modern office blocks have
been provided in the new premises. Speaking on the
occasion, Shri Reddy said that public broadcasters
continue to be relevant in a developing society like
India. While private channels, sensationalise and
dramatise the news, Doordarshan and AIR have been more
balanced and more comprehensive in the coverage of
news. The Minister reiterated his faith in the need of
a public broadcaster. Referring to the concerns
expressed by Prasar Bharati employees in the wake of
autonomy to the organization, Shri Reddy assured that
their status and service conditions will not be
compromised in any way. He called upon the employees
to work with commitment and with a sense of mission to
produce quality programmes. Prasar Bharati has grown a
lot and we need to consolidate now, he added. 

The New Broadcasting House, situated at Mahadev Road
is the first ever fully digital studio set up of All
India Radio. Built on a plinth area of 13,895 sq.
mtrs, it has two blocks – a five storey Block and a
seven storey Administrative Block. This is the biggest
studio set up in the whole of Asia Pacific region.
Each transmission studio includes – a Digital Audio
Work Station, two CD players and a digital mixer. 10
Transmission Studios are also equipped with Digital
Phone-in units, with facility to conference with upto
12 callers on ISDN and PSTN lines. The Digital Audio
Work Stations have a provision for 24 hour scheduled
programme back up to take care of accidental network
failure. 

Doordarshan Tower B is an eleven storey octagonal
structure. It is enveloped by a five storied structure
housing studios and ancillary technical areas. The
18,958 sq. mtrs Technical Area is centrally air
conditioned and houses four studios of varying sizes.
The largest studio is 600 square meters. The post
production facility include 25 Non Linear Edit suites,
25 A/B Roll Edit suites and extensive computer
graphics facility. The News Room on the second floor
has 75 journalists’ work stations backed by Integrated
News Room Automation System. [RS/NSR ]



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

DIGITALIZATION OF DD AND AIR STUDIO CENTRES 
	
	

Rajya Sabha 

During 2005-06 and 2006-07, ten studio centres of
Doordarshan are targeted to be fully digitalized and
twenty-two partially digitalized, at a cost of about
Rs. 164 crore. As regards All India Radio, 61 and 66
studio centres are to be completely digitalized during
2005-06 and 2006-07 respectively, at a cost of
approximately Rs. 31.91 crore. Their implementation
would, however, depend on approval and availability of
funds. 

Sixty-three Doordarshan (DD) studio centres and 206
radio centres are currently operational in the
country. Of these, 9 Doordarshan studio centres and 79
radio centres are fully digitalized while 9
Doordarshan studio centres and 59 radio centres are
partially digitalized. 

This Information was given by Minister of Information
& Broadcasting and Culture, Shri S. Jaipal Reddy in
written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today. 
[RS/AS ]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NRI to launch FM radio station in Canada An Indian
settled in Canada has secured a license to run an FM
radio station, which would go on air early next year
with programmes for at least 15 ethnic communities in
this city.
Kulwinder Sanghera, a Punjabi who arrived in Canada in
1979, clinched the license from Canadian
Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission to
launch his FM station CFMW.
The new station will broadcast in 15 languages for at
least 15 ethnic groups. The programmes from Monday to
Friday will be done in six languages while the others
are slotted for weekend shows, the Canada.Com
reported.
Almost 70 per cent of the content would be music
programmes, targeting the youth, while talk shows and
news will share the rest of the air time, it said.
Sanghera, who is delighted over his new venture, is no
novice in the field as he already owns a recording and
video production studio named 'Music Waves' and had
produced several national and regional television
shows.
Music Waves roped in Indian musicians, especially
Punjabi Bhangra artists, from the UK to play on their
recordings, but radio stations here refused to play
the music, prompting Sanghera to think about launching
his own radio channel.
"The US and Canada have been very, very good markets
for South Asian music. But we never got any airplay,"
he was quoted as saying in the report.
However, there may be one more hurdle that he will
need to clear prior to going on air as a compatriot of
his, who had failed to secure the license, is planning
to lodge an appeal before the CRTC, the report said.[
Press Trust of India, Vancouver, August 22, 2005]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



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Compiled by: Jaisakthivel, President, Ardic Dx Club,
3/45 Annai Sathaya Nagar, III Street, Arumbakkam,
Chennai-600106, Tamil Nadu, India 







	

	
		
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