Saturday, November 26, 2005

Germany's DW looking for partners for radio, TV

Press Trust of IndiaNew Delhi, November 25, 2005
Germany's international broadcaster Deutsche Welle has said it wasinterested in entering the television and FM radio space in India, though itwas wary about the restrictions on news and current affairs programmes forforeign broadcasters."India is an important country and we are looking for partnerships here," DW Director-General Erik Bettermann said.He said DW, which had revenues of about 300 million Euros last year, wasopen to making investments in the Indian market, in case right opportunitiesand partners came its way.Among others, Bettermann held meetings with top officials of publicbroadcasters All-India Radio and DD during his visit to the nationalcapital, and welcomed the government's decision to allow foreign directinvestment in FM radio.He, however, expressed reservations over some of the restrictions on foreignbroadcasters in respect of news and current affairs programmes. "Free pressis a pre-condition for democracy... Open the sector for foreignbroadcasters. It is the trend worldwide," he said.While the government has disallowed news and current affairs programming inprivate FM radio, foreign TV news broadcasters like BBC and CNN cannot haveprogramming and advertising specifically designed for Indian audience.DW, which transmits multilingual feed over its network including in Hindi,offers 29 radio channels apart from its TV channels. It is mandated bypublic law and funded by the federal government.The German network, whose programming ranges from news, features, sports andbackgrounders, may look for a content tie-up with an Indian radio partnerand offer programmes on sports, culture and lifestyle.Thomas Barthlein, a senior official of DW, said that the broadcaster wasalso speaking to direct-to-home (DTH) service providers in India like Zeeand Prasar Bharati for making their TV channels available on their platform.This was apart from the efforts on the FM radio side, he said.After the liberalisation in the FM sector, which included shifting to arevenue share regime and allowing 20 per cent FDI, the market has seeninterest from a variety of broadcasters.BBC is believed to have filed an application with the Foreign InvestmentPromotion Board for a 20 per cent stake in a radio company while others likeUKs Virgin group are also keen on a radio foray.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1556298,00020020.htm

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

BBC tunes in to FM radio

OUR BUREAUMumbai, Nov. 21:
BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of Britain's publicservice broadcaster, has filed an application with the Foreign InvestmentPromotion Board (FIPB) seeking permission to establish and operate an FMradio station in Mumbai.The application was filed on November 14, just three days before thegovernment cleared a proposal permitting 20 per cent foreign investment inthe FM radio business.The rider attached is that the 20 per cent cap will include foreign directinvestment (FDI), investments by non-resident Indians and persons of Indianorigin (PIOs) and portfolio investment.Until now, foreign investment of up to 20 per cent was permitted in radiounder the Portfolio Investment Schemes under the Foreign Exchange Management(Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident outside India)Regulations, 2000 while FDI was not permitted.The rules have now been changed in the light of a changed scenario even asthe government prepares to launch the second phase of the FM radiobroadcasting services.BBC Worldwide hasn't said in its application who it intends to partner inthe FM radio business.Last December, BBC Worldwide signed an arrangement with Bennett and ColemanLtd, publishers of Times of India and Economic Times, to publish the 29magazines in the Times' stable, including Femina and Shipping Times through a 50:50 venture called Worldwide Media.The Times group has a FM radio venture called Radio Mirchi, which operatesin seven cities, including Mumbai and Calcutta.However, it is not known whether BBC Worldwide will pick up a stake in theventure or find another partner.Radio Mirchi is planning to come out with an initial public offering, whichwill be the first by a FM station. It has already filed a red herringprospectus with the Sebi.The company plans to offer 12 million shares with a face value of Rs 10 eachat a premium to be decided through a book-building process. The book-runninglead managers to the issue are JM Morgan Stanley Ltd and Enam FinancialConsultants Pvt Ltd.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051122/asp/business/story_5505790.asp

Sunday, November 13, 2005

AIRs 24X7 Music Channel from Trichy and Lucknow

Hyderabad November 13, 2005 1:36:03 AM IST]
A 24-hour channel in Hindustani and Carnatic Music will be launched shortlyby All India Radio (AIR), which also plans concerts at prominent open publicplaces to popularise classical music in the country.Lucknow for Hindustani classical and Trichy for Carnatic music would be thehub of the 24X7 music channels, which would be launched ''anytime'', AIRDeputy Director General (South Zone) G Jayalal told the media here today.AIR, in collaboration with the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, proposed tohold classical music concerts at public gardens and prominent open spaces,for which the Prasar Bharati (PB) Board had given its consent recently.Flanked by Hyderabad Station Director Dr Gopalakrishna and Programmer MsVedavathi, AIR's Southern Chief said Archives (South) would release onNovember 13 Audio Cassettes and Audio Compact Discs of four popular Teluguplays. The plays - ''Kanyasulkam'', the all time socially relevant play byGurajada Appa Rao, ''Varavikrayam'', another play on dowry written byKallakuri Narayan Rao, ''Ganapathi'' rated as the best literary comedy byChilakamarthi Laxminarasimham Panthulu and ''Pandavudyoga Vijayalu'', pennedby Tirupathi Venkata Kavulu - would be released on the occasion of''Broadcasting Day''.Union Information Minister S Jaipal Reddy and K S Sarma, the CEO of PB,would be present on the occasion.The event would be recorded due to the national mourning and relayed byAkashvani Centres from December 17 to January 23, 2006.
http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=160754&cat=India

Second phase of FM radio starts rolling

Nivedita MookerjiFriday, November 11, 2005 22:51 ISTNEW DELHI:
Over 100 applications have been made to the government, seekingentry to the second phase of private FM radio service.Among those who have submitted their pre-qualification bids, include MusicBroadcast Private Ltd (MBPL), Bennett Coleman, Hindustan Times, Bhaskargroup, Jagran group and Reliance, among others. The deadline for submittingpre-qualification bids was Friday.While only 42 applications had come in till Thursday, the rest weresubmitted on Friday. The government has thrown open the second phase of FMradio for 338 frequencies (radio stations) across 91 cities.Technical evaluation of these bids, including security clearances from thehome ministry, will take around two months, it is learnt.Financial bids have to be submitted in January. While the last date forfinancial bids for the 'A plus' and 'A' category cities (big cities acrossthe country) is January 6, for cities and towns in the north, the deadlineis January 13. For eastern Indian cities and towns, the deadline is January20, for western cities, it is January 27, and for the south, it is February3.Every applicant and related entities must bid for only one channel per city,as per the tender document.Also, channels allocated to an applicant and related entities should notexceed 15% of the total number of channels in India. Subsidiaries ofapplicants in the same city will be disqualified, and so will be the holdingcompany of the applicant company in the same city.Foreign investment will be restricted to 20% of the paid-up equity of thecompany. Also, one Indian entity must hold more than 50%, excluding theequity held by scheduled banks and other public financial institutions. Alldirectors on board must be Indians, as per the tender. Even all the keyexecutive officers of the applicant entity must be resident Indians.Financial bids will have a one-time entry fee, deposit of an amountequivalent of 50% of financial bid, and performance bank guarantee in favourof the I&B ministry equivalent to 50% of financial bid. To apply for allcategories of cities, a company must have a net worth of Rs 10 crore, for Aplus and A class cities Rs 3 crore, for B category, Rs 2 crore; for C class,Rs 1 crore; and for D class, Rs 50 lakh.Making a shift from a licence era to revenue-sharing, the government hasspecified the annual revenue share at 4% or 10% of the reserveone-time-entry-fee (OTEF) for a city, whichever is higher. Annual fee willbe paid on quarterly basis.While FM bidders must operationalise within 18 months of issue of LoI, theymay need to opt out in case of delay. But, the tender has stated, "in theevent of default in operationalisation of a channel being attribuateble todelay beyond reasonable period by Becil/Prasar Bharati, WPC, the prescribedtime limit will be extended." Co-location on Prasar Bharati towers ismandatory for FM companies, and Becil, a PSU under the I&B ministry, willintegrate the infrastructure for radio operations.As for content, news and current affairs will not be allowed, and 50% ofprogramming on a channel must be produced in India, according to the FMtender.The first phase of FM radio privatisation took off five years ago.
http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=9431&CatID=4

New FM Channels in Ranchi & Jamshedpur

NAVTAN KUMAR Ranchi, Nov. 9:
Good news for the people of Ranchi and Jamshedpur: the All India Radio (AIR) has decided to give four FM channels, to be run by private agencies, to each of the cities. Official sources said the Union ministry of information and broadcasting has invited tenders, the last date for which was November 7. Three parties have applied and a decision will be taken soon, added sources.
The tenders were floated as part of the Union ministry's massive expansion plan of the FM radio broadcasting services. According to the plan, the government intends to allocate 338 channels to private parties in 91 cities across the country. The operations will, however, be restricted to entertainment-based programmes. The four channels will be in addition to the existing FM channel (103.3 MHz) in Ranchi, which mainly broadcasts Vividh Bharati programmes.
An official said: "The expansion plan was mooted after the Prasar Bharati decided radio culture is on the revival path in India. FMs are popular and have become a part of life in the bigger cities. They air melodious songs and also provide local information, trains, bus or flights timings, forecasts weather, traffic situation and other such things"
So far, FM is yet to hit Jharkhand "in the true sense", he pointed out, as only limited time is allotted for local stations. However, the official noted, the audience research wing is trying to make the existing slots more lively and entertaining.
"We have already introduced programmes on the existing FM channel. We are also in the process of selecting good anchors. Our main target is young people in the age group of 18 to 35," the official pointed out. Sources said Firayalal - a famous departmental store in the capital - and Radio Sheetal has applied for the Ranchi tenders.
Interestingly, the ministry had invited tenders two years ago, but did not get any response. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051110/asp/jamshedpur/story_5458903.asp

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

News automation system at AIR - Guwahati

Guwahati, Aug 28 : All India Radio, Guwahati, has become the country's firstregional radio station to introduce the news automation system.The system, designed and developed by the research and development wing ofAIR, will also be introduced in Lucknow, Jaipur and Mumbai air stations verysoon.Inaugurating the News Automation System at the Regional News Unit(RNU) ofAIR Guwahati this afternoon, engineer-in-chief of All India Radio K M Paulstated that digital recording facilities are being introduced removing theold tape system in about fifty per cent of the radio stations of thecountry.He said process is on to digitize the programme distribution throughsatellites all over the country.Terming the news broadcasting house, built at a cost of around 60 crorerupees, at the parliament street in New Delhi, as a unique in the world, MrPaul said that the news, the programme and the external services sectionsare being fully automated using top class equipment there.
http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=17869

Akashwani award for Kovai AIR station

Coimbatore, August 30:
All India Radio, Coimbatore station, has been adjudged the best maintainedstation in the south zone in the year 2004.The station bagged the Akashwani award, after technical experts inspectedvarious stations in the zone comprising Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka,Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Andaman and Nicobar islands, station director NMurugan said in a release today.The award presentation ceremony would be held at AIR, Thiruvananthapuram, onSeptember 5.Established in 1966, the station started Rainbow FM (stereo) in August 2000,which has emerged as one of the most listened FM stations, in the face ofstiff competition from private organisations, Murugan claimed.In April 2002, Gyanavani FM (stereo) transmitter was commissioned here,which was the first in Tamil Nadu and third in India. All the threetransmitters are located at Chettipalayam on the city outskirts and thestudios for AM and FM are located at Ramanathapuram in the city. (Agencies)http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7BECDCEC
24-D612-4E63-9417-870DE5DA5745%7D&CATEGORYNAME=National

Monday, August 29, 2005

AIR unveils new broadcasting house

Indiantelevision.com Team(24 August 2005 8:17 pm)
NEW DELHI: Indian pubcaster Prasar Bharati enterd the digital era byunveiling a swanky studio for All India Radio in the Asia-pacific region'sbiggest broadcasting studio set up here.The New Broadcasting House, as its being called, was inugurated byinformation and broadcasting minister Jaipal Reddy yesterday, who said thatapproximately Rs 1.97 billion would be spent on the whole digitizationprocess.The minister also took the opportunity to allay fears of the employees ofPrasar Bharati, an autonomous organisation.The employees union had recently exhorted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh torepeal the Prasar Bharati Act as it would fail to take care of theemployees' concerns in its present form due to shortage of funds.The new facility of Prasar Bharati was unveiled in the presence of I&Bministry secretary SK Arora and Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma.The New Broadcasting House is the first ever fully digital studio set up ofAll India Radio. Built on a plinth area of 13,895 sqmtrs, it has twoblocks -- a five storey studio block and a seven storey administrativeblock.The new set up, which will be used by AIR home services, News ServicesDivision and the External Services Division, has 26 fully automatedtransmission studios. All recording, editing and playback equipment,including mixing consoles and master routers, are in digital mode.The newsroom is paperless, equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities.Besides 26 transmission studios, the nw facility also houses six dubbingrooms, five control booths, two radio conferencing rooms and one captiveearth station.The digital audio work stations have a provision for 24 hour scheduledprogramme back up to take care of accidental network failure.A newsroom automation software system developed by the Dalet company willenable a central server to receive the feed from wire agencies like UNI,PTI, PTI Bhasha and UNI Varta, faxes and voice dispatches from AIR'scountry-wide correspondent network and sound-bites from TV and make itavailable to editors on individual workstations.And in the studios, instead of reading from paper sheets pinned tocardboards, AIR's newsreaders will now read off the computer monitors, wherethe story will keep getting updated till the last minute electronically.All India Radio has seven channels broadcasting from Delhi. The NewsServices Division puts out daily, 112 national bulletins in 17 Indianlanguages and 65 external services bulletins in 27 languages.It's not that AIR only is getting upgraded. A new wing for Doordarshan toowas unveiled yesterday by the I&B minister.Doordarshan Tower B is an eleven storey octagonal structure, flowering outfrom the sixth floor upwards. It is enveloped by a five storied structurehousing studios and ancillary technical areas. The 18,958 sqmtrs technicalarea is centrally air conditioned and houses four studios of varying sizes.The largest studio is 600 square metres with height equivalent to a fourstorey building. Besides various technical facilities for recording andtransmission, the building also provides for rehearsal rooms, committeerooms, projection room, large screening area and a film preview theatre.The total project cost of Doordarshan Bhawan Tower B is Rs 820 million. TheTower C, an eight storey structure with a 600 persons capacity amphitheatre,will be built in future.

Sunday, July 03, 2005

Govt. plans common infrastructure for FM Radio in 9 cities

Chennai, July 3 (PTI): The Centre, which allowed 20 per cent Foreign DirectInvestment in private FM radio services, will create common infrastructurefor these channels in nine cities, including Chennai, Bangalore andHyderabad, a note prepared by the Information and Broadcasing Ministry said.A total of 48 FM channels would be available for bidding by the privatesector on the common infrastructure network created by the Government inthese nine cities, it said.The other cities where the common infrastructure would be created for FMchannels include Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Jaipur, Pune and Surat.In Chennai and Delhi, six channels each would be available for biddings onphase-II of private FM Radio Broadcasting, after earmarking a total of sevenchannels (Chennai-3 and Delhi-4) for IGNOU and other educationalinstitutions, it said.Hyderabad and Bangalore would have the highest number of channels availablefor bidding at seven each, while Kolkata and Mumbai would have five FM radiochannels each for bidding, it said.The Centre on Friday announced the second phase of private FM radiobroadcasting, replacing the existing licensing model with a revenue sharingregime.While five channels will be available for bidding in Jaipur, another fourwould be up for grabs in Surat. In Pune, the number of channels availablefor bidding is three.A total of 24 channels in these nine cities would be earmarked for IGNOU andother educational channels, it said.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200507030359.htm

Riding high on radio waves

AIR programme touches off a small revolution in rural pockets

ARTI SAHULIYAR
Ranchi, July 1: Laxmi Oraon was tired of the daily struggle for water. Atthe crack of dawn, she and a bunch of women from her village would hit adusty 13-km trail that ended at a well in a place called Getalsud. The lonewell and the four handpumps in her block failed to quench the thirst of the15 villages that made up the Angada block.She recalled the numerous failed trips made by the village men to thedistrict's corridors of power in an attempt to get a new handpump forAngada. Then, someone suggested the Community Radio Programme (CRP), ahalf-an-hour programme on the AIR, aired every Sunday evening.As the request for help from the Angada residents crackled through the radiotwo weeks later on the community programme, an assistant engineer of thePHED department volunteered to support the pump project. Earlier this month,the pump was inaugurated amid much cheer from Laxmi and her villagefolk.Similar such requests on the radio programme have managed to get for theresidents of far-flung areas of the state what the administration could notgive.Coordinator of the programme at Angada block, Malya Bedia, says the radiohas made the villagers aware of the different developmental schemes meantfor the block. She also recalled how the radio was used to connect to themasses about the need to get children and, especially girls, educated."A play was staged themed on the importance of education and it was aired onthe AIR. The next thing we found was that many organisations were comingforward to build the schools," added Bedia.Explaining how the CRP was started with the aim of providing the villagersan opportunity to air their grievances, programme executive Devi Roy said:"The residents did not know who to talk about the problems. We just providedthem with a platform." The programme was a joint effort by the AIR, a localNGO called Manthan Yuva Sansthan and a Delhi-based NGO, Charka.Meena, a 12-year-old, is perhaps one of the best examples of the smallrevolution that has touched these rural backwaters. Six months ago, thebubbly child would spend the day finishing up household chores and learningto cook. "I go to school now. I like maths. My mother says it is important,"she says, enthusiasm written all over her small happy face.
www.telegraphindia.com/1050702/asp/jamshedpur/story_4940628.asp

Radio ga-ga - Revenue-sharing shift should do wonders for FM

Posted online: Saturday, July 02, 2005 at 0000 hours IST
The government's decision to allow existing players in FM to shift from theexisting licence fee regime to a revenue-sharing one is a welcome, thoughbelated, policy correction. It is bound to lend cheer to an industry thathas been struggling for almost five years within the confines of an absurdpolicy framework. Together with the other relaxations in the policy on FMradio - notably, inclusion of foreign direct investment within the overallforeign investment limit - the new policy should see a rekindling ofinterest in FM radio.About time, too. After the first flush of enthusiasm that saw a rush ofplayers bid unrealistically high licence fees when the sector was opened toprivate sector entry in 2000, interest in FM radio had all but disappeared.The reason was simple. Players discovered the returns were just notcommensurate to what they had bid. So, while the government got bids for 101of the 108 frequencies auctioned, and for an aggregate amount of Rs 425crore against the estimated amount of Rs 79.65 crore, the actual amountcollected was far less. Bidders for 64 frequencies defaulted, so only Rs158.8 crore could be collected from 37 frequencies.Worse was to follow. Even of these 37, as many as 13 did not operationalisetheir licences and opted, instead, to surrender them. A few players battledon, even as their losses mounted, in the hope that the government wouldaccede to their pleas to free them from their licence obligations and shiftto a revenue-sharing model. Their hopes have now been realised. Whileexisting players will be allowed to migrate to revenue-sharing, bids for thenext phase of FM will be based on the principle of revenue-sharing. Playersare understandably elated. The recent regulatory corrections should see moregrowth, more revenue and more employment across the country.The parallels with the telecom industry are striking. It was only when the initial licence fee regime (that led to mobile telephones being priced out ofthe reach of most) was replaced by a revenue-sharing model, that we saw aboom in mobile telephony. Hopefully, the same experience will now bereplicated in the FM space. But the government's job is not yet done. Itneeds to reconsider the ban on broadcast of news and current affairs. Theexperience with TV should be a good model to go by. There is no reason whywe should have a different set of rules for radio, as compared totelevision. Policy arbitrariness has no place in a globalising economy.http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=95328

AIR Kolkata transmission hit

Kolkata, June. 30 (PTI): Train services and transmission from All IndiaRadio station were disrupted by widespread power cuts in the metropolistoday following a technical fault at a sub-station of West Bengal StateElectricity Board.Train services on all electrified sections remained suspended between 8.18am to 9.20 am because power supplies from five grids of WBSEB to EasternRailway's Sealdah Division failed, railway sources said.Large areas, including the posh satellite township of Salt Lake, wentwithout power when the 400-kv sub-station of the WBSEB at Jeerat, nearBarasat in North 24 Parganas district tripped, an SEB spokesman said.As a precautionary measure, five units of Bandel thermal power station wereshut down, he said.AIR transmission had stopped at 8.16 am and resumed more than an hour laterat 9.28 am, official sources said.

Friday, July 01, 2005

Govt allows FDI in private FM radio; says no to news

Friday July 1 2005 00:00 IST
PTI
NEW DELHI: Launching a major expansion programme for private FM radio services, the government allowed 20 per cent foreign direct investment in the sector on Thursday and decided on a revenue share regime against the existing licence fee structure to allow a total of 330 stations in 90 cities.
The Union Cabinet, which met here to thrash out the policy framework for the second phase of FM radio licensing, however, decided to continue the ban on news and current affairs.
"Time has come for revival of radio in the country and the government has planned a huge expansion of the private FM radio network which will lead to generation of employment and opportunities and encourage talent," Information and Broadcasting Minister S Jaipal Reddy told reporters here.
"Even as we have decided to allow FDI at the existing 20 per cent cap for FIIS, OCBs and NRIs, there will be no news permitted on private FM channels under the present regime," the Minister said.
The licence fee regime adopted in the first phase proved to be disastrous for the growth of FM radio sector where of the 108 frequencies put on bid, only 21 were operational, two of which have also given notice to close down.
Reddy said the operators will now have to shell four per cent of their revenue as annual licence fee, adding that existing operators will also be allowed to migrate to the new regime and there "would be no black-listing" of any player.
Bidding for the second phase will start in about a month's time, he said, observing that "the government has not looked at the revenue aspect at all" while framing the new policy. "The idea is to encourage expansion of radio in the private sector," he said.
Asked about broadcast of news and current affairs, he said, "We have not looked at this aspect at all... I am not saying no... Actually I have not taken a decision on this aspect as several issues have to be looked into before taking a view."
Reddy said in framing the new policy, the government had accepted most of the recommendations of the radio broadcast policy committee under the chairmanship of FICCI's Amit Mitra as well as that of broadcast regulator TRAI.
He said in the second phase, the cities would be divided into four broad categories -- A, B, C and D -- starting from the metros and flowing down to the smaller ones.
The number of operators in the a category (metros) will be restricted to about 10-11 players while in B cities it will be six, four in C and two in D towns.
"The new players will have to pay a one-time entry fee through close bidding process, and each successful bidder will pay as per his bid amount," Reddy said, explaining the manner in which the second phase licences will be awarded.
Existing operators will have to pay the average bid amount of new players.
"The government will not black-list any player on the basis of ongoing litigation in various courts... We will allow everyone to participate in the new bidding process," he added.
Observing that competition will be a key element under the new regime, Reddy said "no private radio can only run on film music. They have to generate their own content to survive."
Reddy said the government plans to set up a quasi-judicial regulatory authority to deal with disputes, pending which the ministry will have regulatory powers.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEL20050630031031&Page=L&Title=B+R+E+A+K+I+N+G++++N+E+W+S&Topic=0

Centre to launch two new music channels

Chennai, June 29: The Centre will soon launch two new music channels, one for Hindustani Classical music and another for Carnatic Classical music, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Jaipal Reddy said today.
While one of the channels would be started from Lucknow, the other would be launched from Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu. Both these channels would be available on DD DTH platform, so that lovers of classical music could avail this music in digital quality for most of the time, he said.
Releasing 'Akashvani Sangeet' CDs and Cassettes of doyens of carnatic music, late M S Subbulakshmi, Alathur Brothers and 'Ariyakudi' Ramanuja Iyengar, at the music academy here tonight, he said the Doordarshan DTH now had space only for 33 channels and 17 more would soon be added when these two new music channels would be 'mounted'.
Stressing that All India Radio (AIR) would also focus on folk music, Reddy said 'we have decided to go in for huge expansion of FM radio in the private sector.
We will set up 330 AIR stations throughout the country in as many as 80 new cities, thus laying more focus on growth rather than on earning more revenue.
Reddy said the first phase of the private sector radio expansion did not succeed in full as lot of emphasis was laid on revenue earning rather than on growth. "Now, I am reversing this priority so that people will be able to enjoy more radio in general and more radio in the private sector".
In an obvious reference to the All India Radio losing out to private FM channels, he said all efforts would be made "within our powers to see that radio is revived."
Speaking about the proposed music channels he said: "The golden voice of M S Subbulakshmi, Alathur brothers and of others would be avaiable now to everyone", he said adding that music and peace were intertwined. "Where there is music, there will be peace".
Reddy said Doordarshan's DTH was the only 'free-to-air' DTH available in the world today. The unique feature of it DD DTH was that 'we are able to accommodate all the radio channels in it'. "We are also planning to release AIR folk music in digital quality. Our entire archives, the richest in the world today, had been digitalised by harnessing the latest technology".
The Prasar Bharati now had all the speech of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Rabindranath Tagore and all Prime Ministers and Presidents. "All these have been preserved in digital form. The problem with the Prasar Bharati is that we have lot of good things but do not know how to disseminate them".
Paying encomia to the music doyens whose CDs were released today, the minister said Government cannot remain 'indifferent' to the fate of arts. Governments should be eliminated from intervening or interfering in arts. The AIR had played glorious role in promotion and preservation of classic music.
Jaipal Reddy said historically the All India Radio in the country had rendered greater service, be it Hindustani music or Carnatic music.
"We have record of 10,000 hours of classical music. We have rare recordings of doyens of both the music".
Reddy handed over the first CD of Subbulakshmi to another maestro of Carnatic music, Balamurali Krishna, the CD of Alathur brothers to the Editor-in-Chief of 'The Hindu', N Ram and the CD of Ramanujam Iyengar to Gauri Ramnarayan, a music critic. (Agencies)
Published: Wednesday, June 29, 2005
http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7BD4A44789-D575-4340-A838-367CDCC9B155%7D&CATEGORYNAME=Chennai

Sunday, June 26, 2005

SW Radio Africa saved from closure

By Staff Reporter
Last updated: 06/25/2005 21:13:04

SW RADIO Africa which has been teetering on the brink of collapse is nowsafe, it was confirmed on Friday."SW Radio Africa is very pleased to announce that we have been saved fromclosure," the station's manager Gerry Jackson said in a brief statement."We will therefore be able to continue broadcasting on Medium Wave 1197kHzfrom 5 - 7am every morning. This signal is clearly heard throughout SouthAfrica and over most of Zimbabwe. We regret that due to the relentlessjamming of our Shortwave signal by the government we are unable to providethis service at the moment."Jackson did not say where the money had come from, but indications were thatthe station was now safe for another year.The award winning radio station needs close to £100 000 every month toremain in operation, according to insiders.
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/fm14.12786.html

New policy awaited to boost FM

ASHISH SINHA
Posted online: Saturday, June 25, 2005 at 0059 hours IST

NEW DELHI, JUNE 24: What would be the way forward for private FM radio inIndia? The question has been bothering the industry for a while as it seesits revenues dip with no solution in sight.Pending cabinet's apporval are Trai's recommendations on the implementationof Phase-II of FM in India, as envisaged in the Tenth plan, which talksabout expanding the FM umbrella cover to 60% population of India."A lot of the success of Phase-II will depend on the policy measures. A goodpolicy will almost certainly give a boost to the industry. A bad policy onthe other hand may lead to a repeat of history of radio may never attain itsopportunity," cautioned Prashant Panday, COO, Radio Mirchi.Trai, while consenting with the findings of Dr Amit Mitra committee on RadioBroadcasting, has recommended that the existing license fee structure wouldbe changed to one with a one time entry fee and a revenue share of 4% ofgross revenue.Inclusion of news and current affairs as content on private FM, was anotherdemand of the industry.Trai in its report has said: "...Coverage of news and current affairs shouldbe reviewed. These restrictions should be lifted once the securityimplications of this step are adequately addressed..." "News will increasethe scope and reach of FM by several folds. We will get listnership by'appointment', which would bring in more advertisers too," senior Radioprofessional said.Currently, the radio ad-spots are sold in the range of Rs 500 to Rs 1,500per 10 seconds and there aren't too many takers for the medium. Concurs CVLSrinivas, managing director - MAXUS, India & Asia Pacific. "Not too manyadvertisers have utilised the power of radio as a medium but you can't blamethem.
"http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=94753

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

World's largest school launches FM Radio

Monday, 20 June , 2005, 09:52
Lucknow: The world's largest school as recognised by the Guinness Book hasmade its foray into the media world with the launch of an EducationalFrequency Modulation (FM) Radio Channel. Lucknow-based City Montessori School (CMS) would become the firstintermediate level institution in the country to run an educational FMRadio.Union HRD minister Arjun Singh will inaugurate the Channel on July 1 next ata ceremony here.CMS is the biggest school in a single city anywhere in the world having over29,000 students on its rolls.Addressing a news conference yesterday, CMS Founder-Manager Jagdish Gandhisaid the 90.4 MHz FM Radio would air five hours programme daily in twoshifts from 0700 to 0930 hrs and from 1900 to 2130 hrs.The Channel has materialised with the active support and cooperation of the All India Radio (AIR). ''The Channel aims at establishing a strong link between the students,teachers and parents as well as act as a friendly channel for today'syouth,'' said Gandhi.The FM Radio will also host phone-in programmes featuring guest lectures,career counselling, subject tutorials, interview with child psychologists,teaching sessions, besides quizzes based on general and subject knowledge.''It will encourage students to produce their programmes and act as anchorson the Radio shows,'' he added.United Nations General Assembly has invited Gandhi, also a social activist,to participate and provide inputs from NGOs in the hearings to reform theworld body.http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13876534

Saturday, June 04, 2005

AIR aims at new image

OUR CORRESPONDENT
Kohima, June 2: They have not been paid fully for the India Shining campaignyet, but it has not stopped All India Radio from thinking of a shiningmakeover of its market image.Market image was the focus of today's inaugural session of the AIR'sthree-day conference of heads of commercial broadcasting services from allover the country.In what was seen as a strong message from director general Brijeshwar Singh,AIR will try to launch itself as more market-savvy, ostensiblyreinterpreting its guiding principle of "Bahujan Hitay Bahujan Sukhaya".The questions are few, they said, commanding many small ideas rather thanone big idea for all the problems.AIR's failure has also been attributed to giants like Airtel or Hyundai,giving short shrift to the mass medium.On the other hand, the participants laughed over customers who "did not needeffort" to get to advertise.However, there are some private players who don't have the right image ofAIR in order to advertise."Indian Airlines told us who listens to All India Radio," explained amarketing officer.There were others, too, who have inspired AIR for a rethink on its brandimage. Airtel, Jet Airways, Air Deccan, Pepsi and even the Railways are saidto have said a "no" to advertising on AIR.Some of the stations have done well by customising programmes and so, doingwell in revenue collection also.Bangalore and Chandigarh did well while Chennai was termed "conservative".But the worst was Calcutta, which is said to have a "negative image".The airwave giant might have posted a revenue of Rs 158 crore last year, butis eyeing Rs 200 crore. It is only two years ago that AIR touched Rs 100crore and the potential is big-time, it has realised. The mindset of havingfewer marketing agencies as the interface is seen as a hurdle to profit.Singh said with less than 1,000 people into marketing, a target of Rs 200crore was not possible. There was need to have better interface, it waspointed out. Next came making better commercial programmes withoutcompromising public service broadcasts and gearing up the team to the marketenvironment."There is no reason but inertia that we cannot be more efficient," Singhsaid. He said there was need for more "products" besides market knowledgeand audience research. More ideas will be churned out during the conferenceand in the valedictory function to be addressed by Prasar Bharati chiefexecutive officer on June 4. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050603/asp/northeast/
story_4820290.asp

SW Radio Africa Switches Frequency

Media Institute of Southern Africa (Windhoek)
PRESS RELEASE June 2, 2005
Posted to the web June 2, 2005
On May 31 2005, SW Radio Africa which broadcasts from London, beamed itslast shortwave evening broadcast saying this was due to repeated jamming ofits transmission signal by the Zimbabwean government."The jamming of our transmission signal by the Zimbabwe government hasrequired that we broadcast on multiple frequencies," SW Radio Africa said ina statement."This has been very successful and our listeners have been able to clearlyreceive us. But it is financially unsustainable, adding a huge amount to ournormal running costs."The station which is manned by Zimbabweans exiled in the UK, is nowbroadcasting on medium wave for two hours in the morning (05h00 - 07h00local time) and 24 hours a day on its website, www.swradioafrica.com.The medium wave signal does not, however, cover the whole of Zimbabwe andmany of its listeners will not be able to tune into their broadcasts.SW Radio Africa, however, said it was doing everything possible to maintainits financial viability."Our medium wave signal is clearly received throughout the whole of SouthAfrica so we do know that the two to three million Zimbabwean exiles therewill be able to clearly receive our programming."A free media is the cornerstone of any democracy and we will do our verybest to ensure that we continue to provide a voice for Zimbabweans, as westruggle along this difficult road to freedom together," said the statement. http://allafrica.com/stories/200506020056.html

Thursday, June 02, 2005

Radaio Japan 70th anni special programs

Radio Japan has lined up some special programs on the ocassionof 70th anni of first international broadcast from Japan.First part of the series of programs were broadcasted today.
((((( Japan & the World 44 Minutes )))))
Mon.- Fri. 14:15 - 15:00(JST)(repeat) 19:15, 23:15, 2:15, 9:15, 10:15(JST)

Jun.1,Wed. - Jun.3,Fri.
* NHK WORLD 70th Special: Introducing Japan for 70 Years
The three-part series goes behind the scenes of NHK's internationalbroadcasting services, discovering the history and the thoughts of theprogram makers.
Jun.1,Wed. -
The Start of International Broadcasting -
Jun.2,Thu. -
Post-war International Broadcasting in the Age of Radio -Guest:Setsuro Kitayama (former NHK employee)
Jun.3,Fri. - The Advance into TV and Internet Broadcasting -Guest:Toshiyuki Sato,
(Director-General, International Planning& Broadcasting Department of NHK)
----------------
((((( Radio Japan Focus )))))

Jun.1,Wed. - Jun.3,Fri.* NHK WORLD 70th Special:Frontline of the Grobal Broadcasting (1)-(3)This 3-part special series commemorates the 70th anniversary of NHK'sinternational broadcasting on June 1st. Satellite broadcasts fromthe Middle East are in the spotlight; Western nations are employing newinformation strategies; an NGO has started international broadcasts inAfrica. What do international broadcasts tell us today? We present thefrontline.

Monday, May 30, 2005

Eritrean dissident programme observed on Ethiopian state radio

Sunday May 29th, 2005 00:16.
ADDIS ABABA, May 28, 2005 -- BBC Monitoring observed a programme produced byan Eritrean opposition movement on two shortwave frequencies used by theexternal service of Radio Ethiopia, at 1501-1600 gmt on 25 May 2005.At 1501 gmt on 7165.1 and 9560.3 kHz, following on immediately from a RadioEthiopia external service broadcast in Arabic, there was an identificationannouncement in Arabic as "Voice of the Democratic Alliance" (Sawtal-Tahalufa al-Dimuqrati), followed at 1530 gmt by a programme in the Kunamalanguage. Radio Ethiopia's external service resumed at 1600 gmt with abroadcast in English.The Voice of the Democratic Alliance programme is believed to have been onthe air since 21 April 2005, in accordance with the following schedule:Sunday 1500-1530 gmt in Arabic, 1530-1600 gmt in TigrinyaMonday 1500-1530 gmt in Arabic, 1530-1600 gmt in KunamaTuesday 1500-1530 gmt in Tigrinya, 1530-1600 gmt in AfarWednesday 1500-1530 gmt in Arabic, 1530-1600 gmt in KunamaThursday 1500-1530 gmt in Tigrinya, 1530-1600 gmt in AfarFriday 1500-1530 gmt in Arabic, 1530-1600 gmt in KunamaSaturday 1500-1530 gmt in Tigrinya, 1530-1600 gmt in AfarVoice of the Democratic Alliance is produced by the Eritrean DemocraticAlliance coalition, an umbrella grouping of 16 opposition parties.Radio Ethiopia is that country's state broadcaster, and has a website at http://www.angelfire.com/biz/radioethiopia

http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=9831

Gyanvani FM radio channel for Northeast

Press Trust of India
Shillong, May 29, 2005
Stating that technology has been harnessed to overcome nature's challengesin the North-East, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh on Sundayinaugurated Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)'s 'Gyanvani' FMradio stations for Guwahati and Shillong."In the North-East, apart from many other things, nature has givenchallenges in communication and access. But modern technology has been ableto overcome this," he said inaugurating the FM radio stations - the first ofits kind by IGNOU in the North-East.All the state capitals would soon be connected by 'Gyanvani' FM radiostations in the near future where young people of the region could expressthemselves, the minister said.Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the students of North-East, althoughvery talented, did not get 'ample opportunities because of inaccessibility.'The FM radio station would provide them the opportunity, he said.Pointing out that highly-educated youth of the region were 'misguided' asinsurgency did not help them to grow, Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapangsaid the FM radio would 'divert' them back to the 'right channel.'Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said his government was committed to takehis second highest literate state to the first place beating Kerala in thenext one year. He also urged the Centre to go for a funding pattern in theratio of 90:10 in implementing the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) schemes fromthe present 75:25 ratio.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7454_1380726,00080005.htm

Sunday, May 29, 2005


Belgium post will issue a stamp on '75 Years of Radio' on 20th June 2005

 Posted by Hello

Deutsche Welle: Now on FM radio in the greater Kabul area

Deutsche Welle is expanding the quality of its presence in Afghanistan:DW-RADIO's services can now be received on FM in the national languages ofDari and Pashto in addition to Farsi, Urdu, English and German in thegreater Kabul area.Two powerful transmitters have been put into operation on almost 2,000 meterhigh Mount Asmai in the Afghan capital city on the basis of a cooperationagreement concluded between Deutsche Welle and Radio Television Afghanistan(RTA) in late 2004. RTA is broadcasting its service from one of the two newtransmitters as well.In close cooperation with Afghan authorities, the German embassy in Kabuland the German Society for Technical Cooperation (Gesellschaft fürtechnische Zusammenarbeit: GTZ) and with funding from the German ForeignOffice in Berlin, Germany's international broadcaster was able to plan andimplement the transmitters very rapidly."Dialogue with the Islamic world is a serious concern for us and ourpartnership with RTA is a major contribution," stressed DW Director-General,Erik Bettermann.DW-RADIO programmes can now be heard by about three million listeners aroundthe clock in a catchment area of roughly 30 kilometres around Kabul on theFM frequency 90.5 MHz.RTA broadcasts its programming on FM frequency 91.5 MHz.Deutsche Welle has been a familiar presence in Afghanistan for more than 30years. In addition to DW-RADIO (which also continues to be broadcast onshortwave) and the internet service DW-WORLD.DE, Germany's internationaltelevision service, DW-TV, can be watched as well: a regional windowdistributed via satellite offers daily news and documentaries in theregional languages Dari and Pashto.
http://www.german-news.de/news/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1170

Kathmandu orders closure of radio centre

AFP[ SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2005 07:35:49 AM ]
KATHMANDU: Nepal's government has ordered the closure of a radio programmeproduction centre in the latest crackdown on the media since the kingassumed absolute power almost four months ago, the centre said Saturday."The Ministry of Information and Communications sent a letter to us Friday(telling) us to shut down our centre," said Gopal Guragain, managingdirector of the Communication Corner which operates with a team of 12journalists. The ministry said the centre, which provides programming to 14of the 50 private FM radio stations across the country, was operatingillegally, Guragain said.King Gyanendra ordered a halt to all radio bulletins, the main business ofthe Communication Corner, when he dismissed the government and seized poweron February 1.Since then the centre has been producing programming dealing with socialissues such as health, community development and religion, according toGuragain, who insisted he would defy the closure order issued by thegovernment, appointed by the king."We have done nothing wrong. We have not done anything illegal. We have beenworking as per the government's directives," he said."We will not obey the government's 'close down' order and we will challenge(it) in the supreme court. Unlike the government, we believe in the rule oflaw. The (order) has made it clear that rule of law has ended in thecountry. "We will go to the supreme court on Monday and I am talking to mylawyers now," Guragain said.It is the first time the government has ordered the closure of a unit of theNepalese media since the re-establishment of democracy in the country in1990.The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) criticised the government'sorder against the Communication Corner."The order is a well-planned attack against the media. This is a crackdownon the Nepalese media by the government," FNJ secretary Balaram Baniya said."It is an illegal and undemocratic move."He said journalists would on Sunday stage a protest in the capital Kathmanduagainst the closure order. They were expected to be joined by hundreds ofradio journalists who have lost their jobs since the ban on FM radiostations broadcasting news bulletins came into effect.The FNJ said this month that at least six journalists remained in detentionfollowing the royal coup and noted that several newspapers had been shutdown by the authorities or had closed due to financial problems. It saidmore than 2,000 reporters had lost their jobs since the royal crackdown.The king repeated in a televised address late Friday that the royal takeoverhad been necessary to end an increasingly bloody Maoist revolt. The Maoistrebels have been fighting to overthrow the monarchy in Nepal since 1996 in aconflict that has claimed more than 11,000 lives.http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1125205.cms

ARDXC Special transmission

From: "John Wright" via 'ARDXC' e-group
PRESS RELEASE.
The Australian Radio DX club inc. (Reg A0011728G), will be broadcasting a special fortieth anniversary transmission relay via Latvia.18th June, 2005. 9290 Khz. 1000 UTC.The club was founded on the 19th June, 2005.For 1 hour duration, for Europe and the USA.Future broadcasts via other sites are planned.Special QSL anniversary cards are available for correct reception reports sent by mail only. No email reports.Requirements, are fifteen minutes of programme details.
Reports to ARDXC, C/- John Wright, 29 Milford Rd, Peakhurst NSW 2210, Australia.2IRCs or 2 USD are needed for a reply. Details of the ARDXC and its flagship bulletin the Australian DX News will also be forwarded.
Thankyou
John Wright
Secretary.
Note for ARDXC members only...no reply postage needed!!!!!!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------
This message has been sent via the Australian Radio DX Club message group. The primary aim of the group is friendly, club-related discussion.
http://www.ardxc.fl.net.au/
---------------------------------------------------------------

Radio Japan Special DX Program

Commemorating Radio Japan's 70th anniversary on June 1st, the June's first weekend show of Radio Japan's "Helllo from Tokyo" will dedicate its entire program to DX items. ON 4/5/6th of June, the following personnel will be on the show.
Ms. Yukiko Tsuji, member of JSWC, Japan Short Wave Club. (Familiar voice of JSWC DX programs.)
Mr. Anker Petersen, Chairman of Danish Short Wave Club International, Denmark. Mr. G. Victor A. Goonetilleke, President of the Radio Society of Sri Lanka.
Mr. Bob Padula, Administrator, EDXP, Electronic DX Press Monitor Association, Australia. Mr. Richard D'Angelo, Executive Director, NASWA, North American Short Wave Association, USA.
All will talk on their radio lives and memories of Radio Japan with Jonathan Sherr and Ms. Hisako Tomisawa, Hello from Tokyo's regular host and hostess joined by Toshi Ohtake of JSWC.
Time and frequencies are: Hello from Tokyo (Time in UTC) ( ) after frequency is the relay site.
Beaming to Europe/Africa Asia/Pacific Americas
Saturday 0510-0600 5975 & 7230kHz(UK) 17810/15195/21755kHz 6110kHz(Canada) 1010-1100 17585 & 17720Hz(UAE) 9696/11730/21755kHz 6120kHz(Canada)
1710-1800 11970/15355kHz(GAB) 9535kHz Sunday
0010-0100 6145kHz(Canada)
0310-0400 21610kHz
1110-1200 9696/11730kHz 6120kHz(Canada)
1510-1600 6190/7200/11730kHz 9505kHz
Monday 0110-0200 5960(UK)/17560kHz 17810/11860(SIG)/17845/15325kHz
17825/11935(BON)kHz

SEND YOUR REPORTS TO
1. RADIO JAPAN, NHK TOKYO 150-8001 JAPAN (No IRC) 2. JSWC, P.O.Box 29, Sendai
Central 980-8691, Japan. (With 1 IRC)

You may request any one of the following JSWC QSL's. 5th Anniversary card (printed in 1957), 50th anniversary card (2002), or 2005 Rooster card. 3. EDXP Australia will issue QSL for the segment of Mr. Bob Padula's appearance during the show. POSTAL MAILED REPORTS, will be acknowledged with full data colored cards showing Australian scenes and wildlife, and should be sent to:Radio EDXP, 404 Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert, Victoria 3127, Australia. Return postage is necessary, Australia: $1.50 in Australian stamps, Elsewhere: 1 IRC or US$1.E-MAILED REPORTS, will be acknowledged with full-data, full-color E-QSLs, and return postage is not required. They may be collected at a special Website.
An on-line reception Report template is available at http://edxp.org Alternatively, reports may be sent directly to edxp@engradio.orgI hope you enjoy this unique DX program and send your reception report. PS. For your information, the following weekend on June 11/12/13, Mr. Vashek Korinek, DXer of South Africa will be on the phone out show of Hello from Tokyo, Radio Japan. Toshimichi Ohtake,International Coordinator, JSWC.

Saturday, May 28, 2005

Community radio: A strong development tool in rural Uttaranchal

27 May, 2005Although a full-fledged community radio movement has still to become areality in India, villagers in various rural pockets all over the countryare using the airwaves to put up their voice about various issues.Uttaranchal Community Radio is currently performing as an importantdevelopment tool for creating awareness, spreading information andfacilitating communication, despite the absence of policy support andgovernment aid. It is a radio service for geographically bound communitiesin areas with poor infrastructure where people do not have access to themainstream national and regional media. The service, which is run andmanaged by local people addressing issues relating to the community in thelocal language, was introduced in Uttaranchal by the Himalaya Trust, a DehraDun-based civil society organisation, with support from UNESCO, in September2001. Since, May 2004, five community radio groups -- four in Garhwal in theWestern part of the state, and one in Kumaon in the East -- have beenengaged in a research initiative looking at grassroots media and poverty.Pradeep Community Radio, Raibar Community Radio and Hewalvani CommunityRadio are some of the groups working actively in the region.
Source: http://www.infochangeindia.org
(The link was working at the time of posting the newsletter)http://www.i4donline.net/news1.asp? fol_name=C_Radio&file_name=radio34&get_pic=radio&p_title=News

Harris Corporation Named Exclusive Supplier of HD Radio(TM) Transmitters

Press Release Source: Harris Corporation
Harris Corporation Named Exclusive Supplier of HD Radio(TM) Transmitters forAll Entercom FM Stations in Sacramento and New Orleans
Thursday May 26, 10:00 am ETFourth Largest U.S. Commercial Radio Broadcaster Joins Other Top Six U.S.Commercial Broadcasters by Selecting Harris for HD Radio Transmission
CINCINNATI, May 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harris Corporation's (NYSE:HRS - News) Broadcast Communications Division (BCD) continues its leadershipin HD Radio(TM) transmission sales and product development with theannouncement that Entercom Communications, the nation's fourth largest radiobroadcaster, with multi-station operations in many top U.S. markets, hasselected Harris as its exclusive HD Radio transmission supplier for itsSacramento and New Orleans FM stations. All nine stations (KSEG-FM, KDND-FM,KRXQ-FM, KWOD-FM and KSSJ-FM in Sacramento; WEZB-FM, WLMG-FM, WTKL-FM andWKBU-FM in New Orleans) will go on air with Harris Z12HDS and Z16HDS solid-state transmitters in late Q2/early Q3 2005. With its first purchase ofHarris HD Radio transmitters, Entercom joins the other top six U.S.commercial radio broadcasters in choosing Harris for HD. Furthermore, thisputs Entercom firmly ahead of its commercial radio competition in NewOrleans and Sacramento with first-to-air HD Radio broadcasts.ADVERTISEMENT"We've seen the great success other radio broadcasters have had with Harristransmitters, and that made us eager to test the products ourselves," saidMartin D. Hadfield, vice president of engineering, Entercom Communications."Harris' Z Series of transmitters gives us the flexibility to switch amongthree distinct service modes ranging from HD-only to hybrid analog/digitalto analog-only. Because of this flexibility, we can remove older, oversizedtube-type transmission equipment. The Z Series also met redundancyrequirements for our main analog channels, which will continue to be ourprimary contact to the listening audience for at least the near future. Mostimportantly, these transmitters open up new opportunities for Entercom. Notonly can we provide an improved listener experience through pristine digitalaudio, but we have the potential to offer additional content throughsupplementary program streams."Each Z12CD and Z16CD transmitter will be outfitted with Harris DEXSTAR®exciters, with an upgrade path to the company's forthcoming FLEXSTAR(TM)exciter for additional power and flexibility. Hadfield also pointed tocustomer service and quick turnaround as reasons for choosing Harris."Harris was very approachable from the beginning and provided terrificservice and communication throughout the organization," he said. "Theirability to meet our challenging timetable for delivery was a big helpgetting us on the air as originally scheduled."Harris' Z Series of solid-state transmitters offers built-in reliabilitythat eliminates single points of failure in PA/IPA modules and various powersupplies, providing true on-air redundancy. Hadfield expects that thetransmitter's solid-state design will allow more favorable maintenanceschedules, freeing up station engineers to focus on other important tasks attheir facilities."Harris is extremely proud that Entercom has given us the opportunity tosupport their HD Radio launch in two very prestigious markets," said DebraHuttenburg, vice president and general manager of Harris BCD's RadioBroadcast Systems business unit. "It's an exciting time for terrestrialradio as the number of broadcasters announcing their HD Radio plans continueto grow. The Harris Radio team is focused on providing our customers with acost-effective, easy-to-implement way in which to launch digital services,along with a product portfolio that enables them to realize the businessopportunities those services bring. We're thrilled to welcome Entercom as aHarris customer and look forward to a long and successful relationship."About Harris Broadcast Communications DivisionHarris Broadcast Communications Division is one of four divisions withinHarris Corporation, an international communications equipment companyfocused on providing assured communications(TM) products, systems andservices for government and commercial customers in more than 150 countries.One of the world's leading suppliers of broadcast technology, HarrisBroadcast Communications Division offers a full range of solutions thatsupport the digital delivery, automation and management of audio, video anddata.
For more information, visit http://www.broadcast.harris.com .
HD Radio(TM) is a trademark of iBiquity Digital Corporation
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050526/flth002.html?.v=12

Voice of America Launches 24 Hour-a-Day Radio Broadcast in Ghana

PRESS RELEASE - Washington, D.C., May 26, 2005 - The Voice of America has officially launched a 24-hour-a-day FM radio programming stream in the capital city of Accra. Ghanaians can now listen to their favorite VOA Africa programming all day, every day, by tuning in to 98.1 FM on their dial.
In addition to daily shortwave broadcasts to the region, VOA-FM offers a rich mixture of VOA's international and local news, updates on current events in Africa and worldwide, as well as a wide range of cultural features. Programming will also includes listener favorites such as Healthy Living with Josephine Kamara, a 30-minute health magazine program featuring reports on medical issues affecting Africa; Sonny Young's Sonny Side of Sports; and Straight Talk Africa with Shaka Ssali, a call-in show which examines topics targeted specifically to Africans, including politics, health, social issues and conflict resolution.
U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Mary Carlin Yates commented on the launch during a ceremony held today in Accra. "I truly believe that having a free and open media is one of the key elements of democracy," she said. "When people have choices in what to listen to and what to read, they can better form their own opinions about politics and about the world."
Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor also praised the launch of VOA's 24-hour broadcast during a special appearance on yesterday's Straight Talk Africa program.
Accra becomes the seventh capital city in Africa to receive continuous VOA FM broadcasts. Surveys show that 97 percent of Ghanaians use radio as a primary source of news. VOA's FM broadcasts will reach an estimated audience of one million people. Twenty-four-hour VOA broadcasts are also heard in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Djibouti, Djibouti; Nairobi, Kenya; Kigali, Rwanda; and Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The Voice of America, which first went on the air in 1942, is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the U.S. government through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. VOA broadcasts more than 1,000 hours of news, information, educational, and cultural programming every week to an estimated worldwide audience of more than 100 million people. Programs are produced in 44 languages, including English.
For more information, call the Office of Public Affairs at (202) 401-7000, or E-Mail publicaffairs@voa.gov.

http://www.voanews.com/english/About/2005-05-26-voa80.cfm

Thursday, May 26, 2005

Radio Six International expands European service

Radio Six International, Scotland's independent international station,launches a new Saturday transmission aimed at listeners across Europe fromJune 4th. Tony Currie will host SATURDAY SOUNDS with a mixture of unsignedbands, guests, record reviews and listeners' letters. The show will comelive from Glasgow between 0600 and 0700 UTC and will be repeated twice laterin the day for listeners in other timezones. Details are:0600-0700 UTC on 15,725kHz (20kW) from Milan, Italy; on 9,290kHz (100kW)from Ulbroka, Latvia, on 88.2MHz in stereo from Tawa, Wellington, NewZealand, and on our 24-hour webfeed at www.radiosix.com1500-1600 UTC on the web feed only2300-2400 UTC on 5,105kHz (50kW) from Monticello, Maine, USA and on the webfeed.The complete transmission schedule for June 2005 (with all times in UTC) is:0000-2359 (Daily) Web feed0000-0300 (Sat/Sun) 88.2MHz stereo (Tawa, New Zealand)0000-0100 (Daily) 5,105kHz (Monticello, USA)0100-0200 (Sun/Mon) 5,105kHz (Monticello, USA)0600-0700 (Sat) 15,725kHz (Milan, Italy); 9,290kHz (Ulbroka, Latvia) and88.2MHz (Tawa, New Zealand)0700-0800 (2nd Sun) 13,840kHz (Milan, Italy)0830-0930 (2nd Sat) 13,840kHz (Milan, Italy)1900-2000 (2nd Thu) 5,775kHz (Milan, Italy)2300-2400 (Daily) 5,105kHz (Monticello, USA)

Concern expressed over looting of FM equipment

By A Staff Reporter
KATHMANDU, May 21: Broadcasting Association of Nepal (BAN) has raisedconcern and condemned the loot of broadcasting equipment from Ghodaghodi FMstation at Attaria of Kailali on Friday by a group calling themselvesMaoists.The station was dedicated to raising awareness among the backward communityof the Tharus and the loot has created a barrier in disseminating the newsand views to them, BAN press release stated.It said that community radio is established as a means to develop a societyand the Maoists' act has devoid the community from the reach of development,it said. Such condemnable attack on a community radio station is a productof authoritarian thought, it further said.BAN has also asked to return the equipment and stop such activities in thedays to come.Similarly, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) AsiaPacific Regional Office has also deplored the attack on the Ghodaghodi FMCommunity Radio Station.AMARK said that it was a direct attack on the people's right to freedom ofexpression, right to information and basic human rights. AMARK has alsoappealed to all parties to respect the rights of community radio stations,no harm be caused to community radio practitioners and allow them tocontinue informing their communities.http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/pageloader.php?file=2005/05/22/topstories/main29

Radio New Zealand: A few programming changes

Radio New Zealand today announced changes to its programming lineup and saidit would revamp its website "to provide up to date information and audio ondemand facilities to enhance what listeners can hear on air.""In a society that is rapidly changing, Radio New Zealand needs to reaffirmits position as a dynamic, relevant and contemporary public servicebroadcaster, and these changes will help us to do so," said RNZ CEO PeterCavanagh.Mr Cavanagh said the 'birdcalls' -- a feature that has come under much firerecently -- have been retained and will be "expanded and integrated in a newproject which will build a sound library of field recordings reflecting thesocial, environmental and cultural diversity of New Zealand."Flagship programmes Morning Report and Nine to Noon with Linda Clark willremain largely untouched, he said, with only minor format changes."Weekday and weekend afternoons will see the biggest changes," he said.Weekday afternoons"The format for weekday afternoon programming will change with a new weekdayafternoon programme which builds on the regional focus of the existing InTouch with New Zealand programme. The magazine and lifestyle format will beretained and, contrary to recent media speculation, it will not become atalk-driven news programme.The programme will be presented from Radio New Zealand's new Aucklandstudios."Wayne Mowat continues to play an important role as the anchor of 'In TouchWith New Zealand' which will focus on special outside broadcasts fromthroughout the country and which will feed into the new regional afternoonprogramme."Wayne's Music moves from weekday afternoons but continues as a valuablepart of the nostalgia listening theme of Saturday and Sunday evenings."National Radio's top rating evening news programme Checkpoint will beextended from one hour to two.
"Saturday afternoons"
Home Grown is retained as the title for a new expanded music programme,which will showcase New Zealand contemporary music over three hours eachSaturday afternoon. National Radio is not reducing its long-establishedcommitment to the promotion of New Zealand music.
"Sunday afternoons"
In place of the present weekday afternoons programme 'What's Going On?,' anew 3 and a half hour books, arts and movies programme will be developed forSunday afternoon with dedicated host Lynn Freeman.TimetableMr Cavanagh said jobs would be added, rather than lost, through the changesand they would be advertised soon.He said a revised National Radio programme schedule will be launched onSaturday 17th September and the broadcaster hopes to have production andpresentation teams in place by early August.25-May-2005http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=12078&cid=1&cname=Media

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

TBC –London based Tamil radio station temporarily suspend broadcasting due to alleged break-in.

London, 23 May (Asiantribune.com): Tamil Broadcasting Corporation, a Tamil radio station based in London reports of the station temporarily suspending its broadcasting services, as alleged saboteurs have broken into TBC studio in the early hours of 22nd May 2005 and vital studio equipments have been stolen and the cable connecting the up-linking facility has been severed.In a press release from the TBC it states: “The deliberate manner in which the up-linking facility was severed point the finger towards a terrorist organisation whose supporters have regularly issued death threat to the TBC programmes director if he continues the TBC service.”“TBC administration strongly suspects that the banned terrorist group LTTE instigated this break-in,” statement adds. TBC program director in the press release said that the readers may know that the TBC is the only Radio station to broadcast impartial news and provide a platform for alternate points of view .He appealed: “We call upon the people, and all our listeners to protest to the local LTTE office and demand them to publicly disassociate with these criminal acts and condemn those who are engaged in these activities.”
- Asian Tribune -
http://www.asiantribune.com/show_news.php?id=14512

Zimbabwe radio faces likely closure

23/05/2005 09:38 - (SA)
Nairobi - An award-winning Zimbabwean radio station in exile on Sundaywarned it could be forced to close down by the end of this month if pledgesof donor funds are not delivered, its manager said.In April, the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) awarded SWRadio Africa, which broadcasts to Zimbabwe on shortwave from London, the2005 "Free Media Pioneer" prize for being a "voice to the voiceless".The radio will receive the price on Tuesday at the end of the ongoing IPIgeneral assembly in the Kenyan capital."If the funds promised by our donors do not arrive before the end of themonth, we will be forced to stop our activities," said Gerry Jackson, thefounder and manager of radio.However, it was not clear how much money the exiled station needed in orderto continue operating.Jackson, a Zimbabwean journalist, set up the station in December 2001 afterbeing forced to leave Zimbabwe following the closure of an independentstation he set up after being fired from a public radio station.According to IPI, the radio, which has nine employees in London, "remains arare independent voice" in Zimbabwe.The Harare government regularly jammed broadcasts in the months before theMarch legislative election, and continued after them, according to the presswatchdog, which also in its report in March chided the Southern Africannation for limiting press freedom.Previous winners of the prize, created in 1996, include the Russian NTVtelevision station and the Serbian B-92 radio station.http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0,,2-11-1662_1709110,00.html

Sunday, May 22, 2005

Rebels attack radio station in Nepal

AP, KATMANDU
MAY 20: Communist rebels on Friday stormed and ransacked a private radiostation whose programming was critical of their efforts to overthrow Nepal'sgovernment, an official said.Armed rebels attacked the Ghodaghodi FM station in Kailali, about 600kilometres (375 miles) west of the Nepalese capital, Katmandu, said RamPrasad Sharma, a local official.No one was hurt in the attack, but the guerrillas made off with much of thestation's broadcast equipment, Sharma said.The station had been critical of the Maoist rebels, who have a strongpresence in the area.Leaders from Nepal's largest political parties met Friday to organise newprotests in an effort to pressure the king to restore democracy in thekingdom.The seven major parties who have opposed King Gyanendra since his seizure ofpower in February, met to plan coordinated protests scheduled to begin nextweek."All of us are working together on a strategy to gather massive support forour movement to restore democracy," said Shobhakar Parajuli, a spokesman forthe Nepali Congress party. "We are using all the resources available instepping up the movement."The king fired the government, seized absolute power and jailed politicianson Feb. 1 citing the failure of successive governments to control acommunist insurgency and to curb corruption.Since then, there has been several street protests, but they have generallybeen attended by only a handful of party workers, who have been swiftlyarrested by the police.The parties said the planned protest rallies on May 22 and May 27 over the country would be massive.

Sunday, February 13, 2005


Unpublised photo from the radio section of the National Science Cente In New Delhi. Posted by Hello

Radio India : The eternal dream of sound

BY Sublime Frequencies
Edited down from hours of raw tapes of radio broadcasts recorded from 1989to 1996 from New Dehli to Bengal to Calcutta and every point between, RadioIndia is the newest addition to Sublime Frequencies' growing library ofethnic radio collage. It's a massive two-disc set of low-fidelity radiotransmissions that encompass Indian classical ragas, Bollywood pop music,psychedelic rock, lush orchestrals, folk music, electronic dance music and avariety of Indian divas. The patter of on-air DJs, commercials and radiodramas have all been left intact, along with a generous helping of hiss,distortion, sound dropouts and vinyl pops and skips. This compilationimmediately distinguishes itself from the endless parade of NonesuchExplorer and Smithsonian Ethnic Folkways collections of Indian music bycapturing Indian music as Indian people hear it - unmediated by Westernanthropologists and archivists. This isn't a collection comprised ofrehearsed, self-conscious musicians performing the music of theirtraditional heritage in a studio at the behest of Western producers who mayor may not be paying them. Rather, because of the de-emphasis on "tradition"and "heritage," much of the music on Radio India is a delightful culturalcrossbreed - combining traditional Indian instrumentation with newer studiotechniques and effects, freely borrowing from Western pop music, Broadwaysongs, European classical and baroque styles and Arabic orchestraltraditions. It's a jumbled mass of sounds and influences that forms atangible continuum of sound, the Eternal Dream of the album's subtitle.Hypnotic bedrocks of rhythmic tabla form a backdrop for dramatic swoops andcurls of viola and chenai. Though it has certainly been observed before, Inever fail to be amazed by the intrinsically psychedelic nature of Indianmusic; the expressive, reverberating character of instruments such as thesitar and sarongi, the effortless and natural swarms of incense-billowingsound. It's a tradition defined by trance and transcendentalism, byimprovisation and de-intellectualization, by drones and repetition. Indianspirituality is defined by limitless concepts like Krishna and Kali, ratherthan the restrictive paternalistic concepts of Western spirituality. Indianmusic's structure is defined by open-ended, improvisatory interplay betweenmusicians, rather than the rigid, virtuosic displays of Western musicians.It is precisely these differences that make this music so intoxicating toour ears, and Radio India allowed me to live inside this vast museum ofsound for over two hours.
(Jonathan Dean)
This 2 cd compilation is available for $ 16.00 plus shipping from :
Sublime FrequenciesPO BOX 17971 SEATTLE, WA 98127 USA
info@sublimefrequencies.com

Some of the other titles from Sublime Frequencies are :
Radio Sumatra: The Indonesian FM Experience CD SF021
Radio Phnom Pehn CD SF020
MOLAM: THAI Country Groove From ISAN CD SF019
Folk and Pop Sounds of Sumatra Vol. 2 CD SF018
Harmika Yab Yum: Folk Sounds From Nepal CD SF017
Streets of Lhasa CD SF016Leaf Music, Drunks, Distant Drums CD ANOM26
ISAN: Folk and Pop Music of Northeast Thailand DVD SF015
RADIO INDIA: The Eternal Dream of Sound 2-CD SF014
Brokenhearted Dragonflies: Insect Electronica from Southeast Asia CD SF013
BUSH TAXI MALI: Field Recordings From Mali CD SF012
Cambodian Cassette Archives: Khmer Folk & Pop music Vol. 1 CD SF011
Folk Music of the Sahara: Among the Tuareg of Libya DVD SF010I
Remember Syria 2-CD SF009
Radio Palestine: Sounds of the Eastern Mediterranean CD SF008
Radio Morocco CD SF007
Princess Nicotine: Folk and Pop Music of Myanmar (Burma) CD SF006
Jemaa El Fna: Morocco's Rendezvous of the Dead DVD SF005
Nat Pwe: Burma's Carnival of Spirit Soul DVD SF004
Night Recordings from BALI CD SF003
Radio Java CD SF002Folk and Pop Sounds of Sumatra Vol.1 CD SF001

Prasar Bharati CEO unveils ambitious global plans

By Dipankar De Sarkar, Indo-Asian News Service
London, Feb 13 (IANS) The head of India's public service broadcaster - oneof the largest anywhere - is planning to take his television and radiochannels to the vast Indian diaspora.K.S. Sarma, CEO of the Prasar Bharati Corporation, is here to publicise aglobal tender for the worldwide distribution of Doordarshan television andAll India Radio (AIR) channels."I expect a very good response," Sarma told IANS at the end of a tour ofAmerica and Britain. "I want to take our channels to wherever there is anIndian population."Sarma's ambitious plan is to deliver 13 television and 12 radio channels innational and regional languages through local carriers that will have to bidfor the contract by March 1.Sarma says the plan is aimed at meeting a long-standing demand forDoordarshan and AIR programmes by the Indian diaspora that currently onlyhas access to private Indian television and radio channels.According to the Indian government, the diaspora is over 20 million strongand found in almost every part of the world. There are a million ethnicIndians in 11 countries and at least 100,000 in 22 others.The Prasar Bharati tender comes after an abortive attempt to provide twofree Doordarshan channels to the diaspora through a private career thatSarma said proved too expensive.The tender covers 49 countries in North America, Asia (including the MiddleEast and central Asia), Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Africa.Refundable deposits for bids for the television channels range from around$40,000 (for North America) down to $5,000 for some of the smaller countriesand $2,000-$3,000 for radio channels.For Sarma, who took over as CEO three-and-a-half years ago, the bid to reachthe global Indian comes after the successful penetration of some of the moreremote and inaccessible regions within India - something he felt fellsquarely within the mandate of a modern public service broadcaster."If we are rally a public broadcaster worth our salt, I must reacheveryone," Sarma said.He said the Direct-To-Home (DTH) service, providing 33 free channels throughset tops and dishes that have to be purchased, had marked a "realrevolution" in public service broadcasting, benefiting 20 million householdsthat are in remote areas with no television signal and another 45 millionwho had no cable access."This will change the broadcasting landscape in India," Sarma added.According to Sarma, of the estimated 202 million households in India, atleast 90 million own a television set, which gives a rough minimumviewership of 450 million.
Indo-Asian News Service
http://www.eians.com/stories/2005/02/13/13sop.shtml