PBC adopts Digital Radio Mondiale, unveils digital migration policy

According to a news report published in Dawn, Islamabad on 24th Dec, 2019 Digital migration policy for PBC (Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation) will be presented to Prime Minister next week. Information Secretary Zahida Parveen told a subcommittee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting.

The secretary said the digital migration policy would be implemented in PBC in three phases at the cost of Rs3.995 billion in six years. 

1st Phase - Estimated cost of Rs42 million, digital broadcast pilot project will be completed in one year

1 kW DRM/FM station - Islamabad

400 kW DRM/AM station - Peshawar

100 KW DRM/AM station - Dera Ismail Khan.

2nd Phase - To be completed in three years at the cost of Rs 3,153 million.

1000 KW DRM/AM station - Fort Monroe, Dera Ghazi Khan

5-10 kW DRM/FM stations - At 13 cities

3rd Phase - Estimated cost of Rs800 million.

100 KW DRM/AM stations - Lahore, Skardu, Quetta and Peshawar

The committee was informed that the technology migration of Radio Pakistan from analogue to digital, would allow transmission of four channels on a single transmitter and crystal clear sound quality.

The transformation to digital will cut the operational costs of Radio Pakistan. The new technology was a necessity as the obsolete AM/FM held receivers were no more available in the market.

With the new digital technology, all locally assembled cars will be equipped with DRM receivers and the local assemblers and manufacturers will incorporate DRM capability in mobile phones.

(Source : Dawn/APP, 25 Dec 2019)

DRM = Digital Radio Mondiale

Radio Pakistan, Multan testing on 1035 kHz

PBC, Multan SRM

Radio Pakistan, Multan has started test transmission on 1035 kHz using new Nautel NX-100 transmitter with effect from 4th Feb, 2016. Well known dxer from India, Jose Jacob noted the station first on air 5th Feb, 2016 at 1400 UTC. Test transmission is scheduled 1200-1600 UTC (1700-2100 Local Time). They are announcing phone number to send listening reports, also live tele conversation with listeners about broadcast by new transmitter was noticed.

 

Radio Pakistan Multan Was inaugurated on 21st November 1970. The listening area of Radio Pakistan Multan comprises of District Multan, Vehari, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffar Garh, Lyyea, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajan Pur.

 

Related :

Nautel NX100 Transmitter

http://www.nautel.com/solutions/high-power-mw-nx-series-100kw-2mw/

(Photo's courtesy PBC,Multan)

PBC is the new DRM Consortium Member

Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Welcomes Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) to DRM Consortium

Digital Radio Mondiale is delighted to announce the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation as a new member of the Consortium.  Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, also known as Radio Pakistan, is a public radio broadcasting network, as well as a mass-media state-owned big corporation in Pakistan.

Syed Imran Gardezi, Director General of PBC said, "The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation is interested in introducing the latest digital technologies for the benefit of the Pakistani listeners.  As such we are happy to join the DRM Consortium as we are embarking on the modernisation and digitisation of our infrastructures".

Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Chairman, welcomes PBC to the DRM Consortium and sees this "as a serious commitment of PBC to the latest radio technologies like the DRM standard and a chance for the DRM Consortium to strengthen its position in Asia and to learn more from an important market like Pakistan".

About Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation    

PBC provides a wide range of radio and news services broadcast on TV, internet and radio and in almost two dozen languages used in Pakistan. Outside Pakistan PBC broadcasts in more than half a dozen languages. PBC's programmes aim to entertain people through music, features, and plays, while educating the overseas audience about Pakistan, its culture and government and the world. PBC programmes educate people on socio-economic issues covering 'health‚ education‚ environment‚ population welfare‚ agriculture‚ special persons‚ rights of women‚ human rights‚ minorities and media freedom'. Its core mission states the aim of PBC as: "education, news and information to bring public awareness to a whole range of significant activity."  At national level, PBC broadcasts in 23 different state-recognized languages 24-hours a day.  The PBC external services programmes are broadcast 8-hours a day in 10 different foreign languages, covering Western, Southern, Eastern, Northern Asia and some parts of Eastern Europe.

For more information please see www.radio.gov.pk  

About DRM

Digital Radio Mondiale™ (DRM) is the universal, openly standardised digital broadcasting system for all broadcasting frequencies.

The DRM standard comprises of two major configurations: 'DRM30' intended for broadcasts on short, medium and long wave up to 30 MHz and providing large coverage areas and low power consumption. The configuration for the VHF bands above 30 MHz is called 'DRM+', tailored for local and regional coverage with broadcaster-controlled transmissions.

All DRM configurations share the same audio coding, data and multimedia services, service linking, multiplexing and signalling schemes.

DRM provides high quality sound combined with a wealth of enhanced features: Surround Sound, Journaline text information, Slideshow, EPG, and data services.

For more information and DRM updates please visit www.drm.org or subscribe to DRM news by writing to pressoffice@drm.org.                                                                                                                  

(Press Release)

Radio Pakistan installs modern digital 500 KW transmitter at Faqeerabad

Radio Pakistan has installed a modern digital 500 KW transmitter at Faqeerabad to multiply the outreach of its medium wave broadcasts on 585 KHz. The transmitter, along with renovation of studios at National Broadcasting House, has been installed with the technical and financial assistance of Japan.

The signing ceremony to hand over renovated studios and transmitter to PBC was held at National Broadcasting House Islamabad on Thursday. Director General PBC, Samina Parvez and Department Manager of Yachiyo Engineering, Kiyofusa Tanaka signed the documents. In her remarks on the occasion, Director General PBC thanked the Japanese government for helping PBC in strengthening its signal and modernizing its broadcasting system.

She said induction of new transmitter is another milestone reached by the PBC management in its endeavour to replace its obsolete and aging transmitters to cater its audience. The listeners in several parts of the country will enjoy radio programmes in clear voice. She said it is a matter of pride for PBC to have completed the project on time. Addressing the ceremony, Kiyofusa Tanaka said the completion of this project marks is yet another milestone in Pakistan-Japan relationship. He appreciated the effort put in by the staff of PBC for timely completion of this landmark project.

The objective of 'The project for rehabilitation of medium wave radio broadcasting network' executed with grant-aid of 'Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA) was to rehabilitate dying medium wave service of Radio Pakistan Islamabad for effective coverage in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, Punjab and Gilgit-Balitstan. 

Under the project, 38 year old medium wave transmitter at Faqeerabad was replaced with a new 500 KW medium wave transmitter, based on latest digital technology. Besides, five Studios and master control room at National Broadcasting House were also digitized.

JICA provided grant-aid of 1,385 million Japanese Yen while Pakistan's government's share was 85.761 million rupees. M/s Yachiyo Engineering Company of Japan executed the project while M/s NEC Corporation, Japan supplied and installed equipments. On-job training was also given to the PBC engineers to effectively run the system.Programme in seven language, including Urdu, Punjabi, Potohari, Hindko, Pushto, Shina, and Balti will be aired on 585 KHz for listeners in 500 kilometer radius as compared with 70 kilometer radius in past. However, this transmission can be heard in a radius of up to 1,200 kilometers at night. Fourteen hours programmes will be aired from the transmitter on 585 KHz from tomorrow.

Samina Parvez Khalid

Director General

Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation

(Via Facebook)

Radio Pakistan to restore medium wave transmission

Addressing Guest Hour programme of Peshawar Press Club here on Monday, PBC Director General Samina Pervaiz said that medium wave transmission would be revived in Karachi, Multan, Hyderabad and Larkana.

More at :

 

http://www.dawn.com/news/1108855/radio-pakistan-to-restore-medium-wave-transmission