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Tag: All India Radio

  • AIR/DD engineers to inspect MSO set-ups for DAS; b’casters asked to stop signals to unlicensed MSOs

    AIR/DD engineers to inspect MSO set-ups for DAS; b’casters asked to stop signals to unlicensed MSOs

    NEW DELHI: Broadcasters have been asked to ensure that signals should not be made available to those multi-system operators (MSOs), who have not received registration from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and who do not provide digital encrypted signals in Digital Addressable System (DAS) Phase III areas from the cut off date of 31 December.

     

    This was conveyed at a meeting convened by the MIB with over 120 MSOs, which was held prior to a meeting of the Task Force over the weekend for the third phase of DAS.

     

    The Ministry has deployed engineers from All India Radio and Doordarshan to inspect the technical set ups of MSOs.

     

    The status of digitisation and stock & supply position of set top boxes (STBs) was also reviewed and all stakeholders were requested to ensure that seeding of STBs is completed in Phase III areas by 31 December so that consumers do not face any difficulty due to stoppage of analogue signals.

     

    In the 12th Task Force meeting held over the weekend presided over by its chairman and Ministry Special Secretary J S Mathur and Joint Secretary (Broadcasting) R Jaya, broadcasters were advised to increase the frequency of publicity on cable TV digitisation and to ensure that it is carried by all the approved TV channels. 

     

    While a public awareness campaign is being carried by all stakeholders; the meeting was told that the multilingual Toll Free Helpline and 12 Regional Units are operational.

     

    The government has updated the list of urban areas to be covered in Phase III for 24 States & Union Territories after comments from State/UT Governments.

     

    In response to the concerns raised by some of the stakeholders about delay in signing of interconnection agreements between Broadcasters and some MSOs, it was decided that these MSOs may furnish the details of pending cases to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) by the middle of this month for holding immediate meeting with Broadcasters.

     

    As was earlier reported by Indiantelevision.com, TRAI will hold a meeting with stakeholders on 18 December to iron out any problems in this regard.

     

    In the meeting with MSOs, it was emphasised that MSOs must carry public awareness campaign on cable TV digitisation on their local channels and by distribution of leaflets, holding meetings and putting kiosks etc.

     

    A demo of the MIS system, which has been deployed to collect seeding data of STBs online from all operators, was also made.

     

    MSOs who have not started feeding the seeding data in MIS were advised to start immediately and update it regularly.

     

    It was informed that multilingual Toll Free Telephone Number 1-800-180-4343 to answer queries of stakeholders, including consumers, for seamless transition to digitisation is already operational and they were advised to publicise it.

     

    As was reported earlier, all stakeholders were told categorically that there would be no extension of the deadline for Phase III and analogue signals should be switched off from 1 January, 2016 in all urban areas of the country. The final phase covering the rest of India will be completed by 31 December, 2016.

     

    TRAI had earlier asked all stakeholders to apprise it by 28 October of any problems arising out of finalising agreements amongst various stakeholders.

  • Manpower audit required to identify posts in Prasar Bharati that need to be filled: Rathore

    Manpower audit required to identify posts in Prasar Bharati that need to be filled: Rathore

    NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati has been advised to carry out a Manpower Audit to identify posts that actually need to be filled up, the Parliament has been informed.

     

    Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said in reply to a question that though there are vacancies in All India Radio and Doordarshan Kendras, there is a need to reassess actual requirement of staff in Prasar Bharati keeping in view changes in broadcast technologies.

     

    Earlier this year, a report had shown that although it had stressed the need for a manpower audit in view of technological upgradation, statistics showed that only 30093 of the 46756 sanctioned posts have been filled in the cash-strapped Prasar Bharati.

     

    Of the total, the filled posts in All India Radio are 15538 out of the sanctioned 26129, while 14555 posts have been filled out of the 20627 sanctioned posts in Doordarshan.

     

    In Group A, AIR has filled just 719 of the 2002 posts and DD has filled just 517 of the 1083 sanctioned strength.

     

    After rigorous exercise, the Government had identified 3452 posts as essential category posts for filling up in Prasar Bharati. Out of these, 3067 posts were identified by Government as essential category of posts in Prasar Bharati to be filled up through direct recruitment have been revived.

     

    A Special onetime dispensation was obtained to recruit these through Staff Selection Commission.

     

    Prasar Bharati sources say Staff Selection Commission has already recommended 2367 candidates for appointment. Prasar Bharati is in the process of issue of appointment orders.

     

    In addition, 38 middle/ senior level Programme posts have been revived for filling up on deputation basis.

  • Broadcast media urged to help flood-affected people in South India

    Broadcast media urged to help flood-affected people in South India

    NEW DELHI: All television and radio channels have been asked by the Government to send relevant and vital information brought out by concerned government agencies for the people of Tamil Nadu and other southern Indian states affected by torrential rains and floods.

    In an advisory, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said it was imperative that all information is broadcast that can assist those affected.

    The advisory noted that Doordarshan and All India Radio apart from some other channels had been disseminating information about the efforts of the government and rescue agencies and even weather-related information, help-lines, and contact numbers of personnel that can be of help to the affected people.

    Considering the enhanced gravity of the situation, it stressed the imperative need for dissemination of critical and vital information regarding all aspects of the disaster on real-time basis.

  • AIR to host monthly Cultural Music Heritage Shows

    AIR to host monthly Cultural Music Heritage Shows

    NEW DELHI: All India Radio (AIR) will be organising monthly Cultural Music Heritage shows as part of safeguarding the country’s musical heritage featuring prominent artistes.

     

    The opening concert on 28 October will be by renowned santoor exponent Pandit Bhajan Sopori and his son Abhay Rustom Sopori. The concert will be telecast live on DD Bharati at 6.30 pm.

     

    Being organised by AIR’s national channel, the show will showcase the musical brilliance shared between generations of musicians.

     

    The show titled A Musical Legacy intends to highlight the musical skills passed from generation to generation amongst musicians.

     

    The concert to be held once a month will see rendition from talented duos like Padamshree Debu Choudhary and his son Pratik Choudhary, Pandit Manprasad and son Lalit Prasad, L.K.Pandit and Mita Pandit, Pandit Rajendar Prassana and Ritesh Prassana.

     

    The series, which forms a part of Prasar Bharati’s mission of ‘Bahujan Hitaya, Bahujan Sukhaya’ is a platform where the rich legacy of the artists would be showcased.

     

    “Radio has not only conserved the musical legacy but given dimensions to it to make it relevant with changing times,” said AIR DG F. Sheheryar.

  • Modi lauds AIR for ‘Mann Ki Baat’ regional language broadcasts, TV channels for promoting Swachh Bharat

    Modi lauds AIR for ‘Mann Ki Baat’ regional language broadcasts, TV channels for promoting Swachh Bharat

    NEW DELHI: All India Radio and television channels came in for praise for different reasons by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly Mann Ki Baat broadcast today.

     

    Modi was particularly grateful that AIR had chosen to translate his broadcasts in regional languages with radio announcers reading them out on the same night at 8 pm from different regional kendras all over the country.

     

    “I know it is not my voice, but what the listeners hear are my views and I am grateful to AIR for taking this initiative,” Modi said.

     

    He particularly referred to a recording message in an earlier broadcast by a young girl from Kannur Kendra in Kerala and praised the AIR Kendra there for inviting that young girl to award her and take part in a discussion on the subject she had raised. 

     

    Modi encouraged more kendras of AIR to organise similar discussions as this would help increase people’s participation.

     

     

    Modi also praised several television channels for the manner in which they took up the Swachh Bharat Mission and promoted it.

     

    He particularly lauded channels like the India Today Group, NDTV, ABP News, Zee TV, and ETV, apart from several newspapers all over the country for taking up this cause.

       

    He referred in particular to the Clean India awards of the India Today group, which had revealed to him innovative ways in which people were taking up this Mission, and the ageing Ramoji Rao for his enthusiasm through his television channels and newspapers for promoting this cause.

  • EC rejects cancellation demand of PM’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on AIR, puts conditions

    EC rejects cancellation demand of PM’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on AIR, puts conditions

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission (EC) has rejected demands for putting off the national broadcast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat until the Bihar elections are over, but said nothing should be said that will have a bearing on the state polls.

     

    The demand had been made by the Grand Alliance formed in Bihar for the polls of various parties.

     

    Meanwhile, Modi has once again offered to share recordings of the messages he receives from people on different issues for the next edition of Mann Ki Baat, which will be broadcast on All India Radio and linked channels on 25 October.

     

    The Prime Minister has urged people to share their ideas for the programme on the MyGov Open Forum. 

    In a tweet he said: “Have an idea for #MannKiBaat programme this Sunday? Share it on the MyGov Open Forum. https://mygov.in/group-issue/give-your-inputs-prime-ministers-mann-ki-baat-25th-october-2015/”.  

    The Prime Minister has also invited people to share their voice messages for the programme on the toll-free number 1800-3000-7800. Selected voice messages may be included as part of the broadcast. 

    “Your voice on #MannKiBaat…dial 1800-3000-7800 and share your message. Some of them will be a part of the programmethis Sunday,” he tweeted. 

    The Mann Ki Baat broadcast this Sunday will the 13th edition of the programme and is scheduled for broadcast at 11 am.  

    The programme is broadcast live on the entire All India Radio network and Doordarshan channels. The programme would also be live-streamed on the YouTube channels of Prime Minister’s Office, Information & Broadcasting Ministry, and DD News. Regional language versions of this broadcast will be aired by AIR stations in respective regions at 8 pm the same day.

  • Bihar Elections: AIR & DD fix time schedules for poll broadcast

    Bihar Elections: AIR & DD fix time schedules for poll broadcast

    NEW DELHI: All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD), which provide a platform for political parties to make poll broadcasts before every election, will also organise a maximum of two panel discussions and/or debates on the Kendras/Stations for the forthcoming elections to the state assembly of Bihar.

     

    The polling begins in five phases on 12 October with the last day of polling being 5 November.

     

    Each eligible party can nominate one representative to such a programme, but the Election Commission of India will approve the names of coordinators for such panel discussions and debates in consultation with the Prasar Bharati Corporation.

     

    The Commission has, as in previous years, worked out a schedule for the time to be given for poll broadcasts to different parties.

     

    The facilities of use of broadcast time and telecast time will be available only to ‘National Parties’ and ‘Recognised State Parties’ in Bihar.

     

    A base time of 45 minutes will be given to each National Party and recognised State Party (recognised in Bihar) uniformly on the regional Kendras of DD and AIR network in the State. The additional time to be allotted to the parties has been decided on the basis of the poll performance of the parties in the last assembly election.

     

    The facilities will be available from the Regional Kendra of AIR and DD in the states and then relayed by other stations within the state.

     

    In a single session of broadcast, no party will be allocated more than 15 minutes.

     

    The period of broadcast and telecast will be between the last date of filing the nominations and will end two days before the date of poll. However, there will be no telecast or broadcast during the 48 hours preceding the close of polls as per specific provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1951.

     

    Prasar Bharati, in consultation with the Commission, will decide the actual date and time for broadcast and telecast. This will be subject to the broad technical constraints governing the actual time of transmission available with the DD and AIR.

     

    The guidelines prescribed by the Commission for telecast and broadcast will be strictly followed. The parties will be required to submit transcripts and recording in advance. The parties can get this recorded at their own cost in studios, which meet the technical standards prescribed by Prasar Bharati or at the Doordarshan/All India Radio Kendras.

     

    They can, in the alternative, have these recorded in the studios of DD and AIR by advance requests. In such cases, the recordings may be done at the State Capital and at timings indicated by DD/AIR in advance.

     

    The broadcasts cannot have criticism of other countries; attack on religions or communities; anything obscene or defamatory; incitement of violence; anything amounting to contempt of court; aspersion against the integrity of the President and Judiciary; anything affecting the unity, sovereignty and integrity of the Nation and any criticism by name of any person.

     

    Time Vouchers will be available in the denomination of five minutes with one voucher having time allotment from one to four minutes and the parties will be free to combine them suitably.

     

    Introduced for the first time for the Lok Sabha elections in 1998, the scheme of free broadcasts was extended by the Commission to the State Assemblies held after 1998 and General Elections to the Lok Sabha from 1999 onwards.

     

    With the amendments to the Representation of People Act 1951 through “Election and Other Related Laws (Amendment) Act, 2003” and the rules notified thereunder, equitable time sharing for campaigning by recognized political parties on electronic media now has statutory basis.

     

    In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of the Explanation below section 39A of the Representation of People Act, 1951, the Central Government has notified all such broadcasting media which are owned or controlled or financed wholly or substantially by funds provided to them by the Central Government as the electronic media for the purposes of that section. Therefore, the Commission has decided to extend the said scheme of equitable time sharing on electronic media through Prasar Bharati Corporation to the ensuing General Elections in Bihar.

  • Zee builds up period drama with marketing innovations that #TurnBackTime

    Zee builds up period drama with marketing innovations that #TurnBackTime

    MUMBAI: Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) Zee TV is all set to #TurnBackTime for its new period drama EK Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani that promises to be recreating the opulence of the 1940s on Indian television. 

     

    The channel is leaving no stone unturned in transporting the audiences back to pre-Independence India. Zee TV, as part of promotions for the new show, which went on air on 27 July, has rolled out its marketing campaign across TV, print, radio, cable, DTH, digital and cinema.

     

    With the core proposition of #TurnBackTime, the communication across platforms gives the audiences a real taste of the golden era gone by.

     

    The objective of the marketing campaign is to reach out to the largest denominator, targeting the loyalists while also bringing on board new audiences. 

     

    On the day of the show’s launch, a print innovation that aimed to take the readers of Mumbai’s top English dailies back in time was unveiled. The front page of Hindustan Times was an exact recreation of the actual newspaper on 27 July 1942, replete with the original masthead. On the other hand, DNA After Hrs took a trip down memory lane, dug out movies that were to release during July-August in 1942 along with the entertainment news of that time and created a special front page as it would have appeared, had it been published on 27 July, 1942. Bombay and Delhi Times carried double spread sepia-toned creatives with the lead actors’ pictures. The print campaign was also extended across key HSM markets of UP and Gujarat.

     

    A differentiated show requires a distinct campaign, hence a three phase television campaign was rolled out. The first phase started with a teaser where audiences got a sneak peek into the worlds of the protagonists. The second phase set the show premise and showcased the stark contrast between the backgrounds of the protagonists. The third phase spoke about the intricacies of the royal world that a common man is unaware of. Also a week prior to the launch, two character promos further established the protagonists – Gayatri as a young, unassuming, simple yet free spirited and ahead of her times girl and Ranaji as a handsome, brooding prince but dutiful towards his kingdom.

     

    What’s more, the radio waves took on a classic feel as radio spots with India’s most iconic radio announcer – a voice synonymous with the Golden age of All-India Radio – Ameen Sayani were played across stations. A tie-up with Big FM had its RJ Neelesh Mishra give viewers a preview of Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani two days prior to its premiere on the show Yaadon Ka Idiot Box. Furthermore, on the day of the launch, for the first time, Big FM had three of its RJs travel back in time to the 1940s and give trivia on fashion, cuisine and style related to that era.

     

    On the digital front, the channel hosted a ‘Vintage Photography Competition,’ wherein consumers were asked to capture today with yesterday’s lens to #TurnBackTime. A ‘tweet a postcard’ activity was also initiated for the Twitterati, where their messages for loved ones were put on an actual postcard and sent across. The campaign has already garnered a digital reach of 15 million.

     

    Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani, with its sheer scale, is one of the biggest fiction launches of the year. It aims to give viewers an up close and personal view of the lifestyles and some of the most closely guarded secrets of the rich and royal of the 1940s.

  • Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar pooh-poohs ‘budget hike’ reports

    Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar pooh-poohs ‘budget hike’ reports

    NEW DELHI: The Indian pubcaster has been a soft target since time immemorial. In the light of media articles citing ratings data by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, which say that Doordarshan’s viewership has been poor despite a hike in budget and hiring of expert consultants, Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar pooh-poohs it all. 

     

    In an exclusive interaction with Indiantelevision.com, Sircar informs that the pubcaster has not even received full reimbursement of government salaries for employees recruited prior to October 2007.

     

    Sircar goes on to point out that as per a decision by the then Group of Ministers (GoM), which was looking into the financial status of Prasar Bharati, it had been decided during the tenure of the previous government that the Central Government will bear the salaries and other allowances of all employees in service as on 5 October, 2007.

     

    Sircar says, “As a result, our own revenue funds that are meant for ‘Content’ have gone to meet this salary gap.” He said that Prasar Bharati had been stressing this fact for the past three years. However, it seems like its voice fell on deaf ears.

     

    At the outset, Sircar says, “I still cannot understand why some people are always raising this question of “hike in budget”? What budget? All the money we get is for paying salaries of 29,000 government servants, who were recruited by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry some 30 to 35 years ago. The government has to pay their salaries as long as they are in service and Prasar Bharati is mainly their administering body and the Ministry passes this salary bill on to Prasar Bharati, who had to engage these persons to disburse their government-scale salaries, without any leeway or choice.”

     

    He added that while the Ministry used to set aside a sum of approximately Rs 80 – 100 crore for several years for creating content for “special areas,” this funding had also stopped, leaving behind several liabilities. 

     

    With the choked fund pipeline for content, Sircar asks, “How does content improve? One way out is to offer our ‘time bands’ to external producers provided they cover our costs.” 

     

    “We are waiting patiently for our funds to be returned. Since these issues are coming out publicly through vague terms like ‘an I&B Ministry official said,’ I would welcome an open debate on this question though we prefer to discuss these matters across the table. But after all, DD is a public institution and it is ready to face any public scrutiny,” Sircar opines.

     

    No longer in a mood to take things lying down, Sircar posed a few pertinent questions:

     

    1) Can we cut down costs on the huge infrastructure, some of which appears to be meaningless?

     

    2) Do we really need to have analogue TV transmission in this satellite age?

     

    3) Why do we spend so much to strengthen short wave and medium wave radio, when it is FM that is in demand?

     

    “I have raised these questions as no one was raising them and many in this organization are not happy at all,” he adds.

     

    Specifically referring to the media reports, he says, “If the programmes that DD has paid for (‘Commissioned’ or ‘SFC’ in DD’s language) do not appear to be attracting enough eyeballs, then we have to reach out to better producers like we used to do for Mahabharat, Ramayan and Buniyaad, etc. DD did not produce its own programmes then or did not decide to pay or commission producers to make programmes for DD. We are seriously thinking about it. But we will have to go over this option very carefully.”

     

    Drawing a comparison between the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Indian pubcaster, Sircar says, “There is a box in the news that advises DD to stay out of the numbers game and become a popular brand distinction like BBC. Do you have any idea of what this means? Every British citizen pays Rs 15,000 per year for the BBC’s quality programmes. But in India, Prasar Bharati struggles to earn its ‘content funds’ through content generated revenue against fierce competition.”

     

    According to Sircar, as per calculations done by the Sam Pitroda Committee, in India the cost per person works out to a mere 31 cents or approximately Rs 20 by way of support to Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR). “BBC gets Rs 35,000 crore per year from the exchequer,” he adds. 

     

    Signing off, Sircar says, “So why do we make such meaningless comparisons and indulge in wishful thinking?”

  • Narendra Modi invites inputs for ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on 26 July

    Narendra Modi invites inputs for ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on 26 July

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited inputs from the people for his next ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio broadcast on 26 July.

     

    The inputs can be sent on MyGov.in.

     

    In a message, Modi said, “Looking forward to share ‘Mann Ki Baat’ this Sunday. Share your inputs and ideas for the programme.”

     

    Unlike earlier this year, Modi has declined for the second month in a row to spell out the subject for his broadcasts on All India Radio.

     

    Earlier, he had in his broadcasts dealt with students going to examinations, or farmers’ issues.

     

    Observers felt that this was because Modi wants to avoid taking up subjects that might turn controversial.

     

    The broadcast at 11 am will be carried by all stations of AIR and also by Doordarshan and several private television channels.