IGNOU launches FM radio

A dedicated FM radio station of the Madurai Regional Centre of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has started broadcasting educational programmes from Friday.

Gyan Vani, the radio network, has well-equipped recording studios and will cover a field of 80 km from Madurai. The radio channel frequency is 105.6 MHz.

S. Mohanan, Regional Director, IGNOU, said that the university had a 24-hour television channel, 'Gyan Darshan,' and a web resource facility, e-Gyankosh. It was also reaching out to defence personnel through Gyandeep. The Madurai station will broadcast programmes from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. every day. "Now, we are broadcasting recorded programmes. Live programmes with the participation of subject experts, and student interactive sessions will be broadcast soon," Dr. Mohanan said.

On the inaugural day, a programme was broadcast about IGNOU, the need for e-communication, and the uses of technology. This is the third FM radio station for the Madurai Regional Centre which covers 17 districts in the southern and western parts of the State with a cumulative student strength of 28,750.

While the radio network in Tiruchi and Coimbatore were started in collaboration with Bharatidasan University and Bharathiar University respectively, the FM station in Madurai has been set up independently by IGNOU. The Regional Director said that a communication would be sent to Principals, subject experts and Education Department officials to participate in the programmes as individuals or in groups. Those who are interested can contact Dr.Mohanan on 0452 2380733 or 2370733.

Source: The Hindu 16/3

I&B ministry's community radio consultation on March 19

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) has

organized a regional consultation on Community Radio (CR) in Ahmedabad in
collaboration with OneWorld Foundation India from Tuesday, 19th March.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/IB-ministrys-community-radio-consultation-on-March-19/articleshow/19010945.cms

[Alokesh Gupta Via dx_india YG]

DRM to host first large scale Digital Radio Seminar for the Press in New Delhi

 The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium is to hold a seminar in New

Delhi on March 14th 2013 aimed at raising awareness of All India Radio's
digitisation plans. The event will be opened by Mr. Yogendra Pal, Honorary
Chairman of the DRM India Chapter and Mr Sanjay Das, Senior Vice President
at Media Mughals.

Amongst the day's activities, All India Radio Engineer-in-Chief, Mr
V.K.Singla will outline the AIR roll-out schedule and senior members of the
DRM Consortium will deliver short presentations on the benefits of the DRM
radio standard, for listeners, broadcasters and the Indian radio industry.
The speakers will also explain the business and marketing opportunities
related to the digitisation of radio in India, encouraging the invited
audience from across the media, to communicate key messages to the Indian
population in a bid to prepare for the future digitisation.

The new DRM digital radio technology will provide Indian listeners across
the country access to more content choice with improved sound quality, as
well as access to digital features such as text news, sports results and
automatic disaster warning in multiple languages.

DRM Chair, Ruxandra Obreja said:  "As the digital roll out is starting to
gather pace, the DRM consortium, All India Radio and Media Mughals want to
bring the message about the digital advantages to listeners, the need for a
transition timetable and the engagement of the broadcast and telecom
manufacturing industries".

Digital Radio Mondiale Workshop for the Indian Press
Thursday 14th March 2013 at

Lecture Room 1
India International Centre Annexe,
40, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003

14.30 - 17.00 Hrs

If you are from press and would like to attend contact me off the list at
alokeshgupta@gmail.com or at 9818449395

[Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, Via DX India YG]

Aamir Khan's old radio traced in Chor Bazaar

Aamir Khan carries a radio in the film P.K. which apparently was sourced though Chor Bazaar.

There are various pictures doing the rounds ofAamir Khan in the ghagra or the tight shirt from the sets of P.K. However no-one has been able to identify Aamir Khan's character in the film. Aamir has strangely also been spotted carrying a radio.
The radio is of olden times and, if sources are to be believed, has an important part in the film. It has almost become like a character, in a sense, and has created curiosity among the audiences. Sources close to the film say, "Aamir had seen this radio in olden times and was very keen to have it. He vaguely described it as one of the oldest radio which was launched."
The production team had a hard time sourcing this radio. They researched and asked a lot of people and finally managed to spot it at Chor Bazaar. This was the closest radio they found to what Aamir had described.
We wonder what is the secret plot behind the radio?
More story on http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
+++++++++++++++
Jaisakthivel, ADXC, Tirunelveli, India

Govt to conduct Phase III FM radio auction in 2013: I&B Ministry

A high-powered ministerial panel has cleared the way for Information and Broadcasting Ministry to conduct auction of FM radio licences in Phase III for 839 channels, which will be completed this year.

"EGoM, on Wednesday, cleared the proposal sent by I&B ministry for some changes in the RFP (Request for Proposal) for auction of FM radio in phase III and we will issue auction guidelines soon," I&B Secretary Uday Kumar Varma told reporters here on the sidelines of CASBAA India Forum 2013.
An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on spectrum headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram had met yesterday on issues related to spectrum auction among other things.
"We should be able to complete the auction of all the 839 radio stations this year," Mr Varma said.
The clearance will help in setting up of 839 new radio stations in the country and will help the government garner revenues to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore, he added. 
More on...http://www.thehindu.com

Florida Ham Issued $25000 Fine for Operating an Unlicensed Radio Transmitter ...

On March 1, the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) in the amount of $25,000 to Terry L. VanVolkenburg, KC5RF, of Cocoa, Florida. The FCC alleged that VanVolkenburg "apparently willfully and repeatedly violated Sections 301 and 333 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended…, by operating a radio transmitter without a license on…465.300 MHz and for interfering with licensed communications." VanVolkenburg holds an Advanced class license.

In September 2012, FCC agents in the Tampa Office received a complaint of radio interference from the Brevard County Sheriff's Department. The Sheriff's Department -- licensee of call sign WQCW384 -- utilizes a wireless radio communications system in the county jail in Sharpes, Florida. According to the complaint, the Sheriff's Department experienced intermittent interference to its radio communications in the jail on the frequency 456.300 MHz on at least 14 days during September and October 2012. According to the NAL, audio recordings taken by the Sheriff's Department suggest "that a male individual interfered with the prison's communications by transmitting vulgar language, sound effects, previously recorded prison communications and threats to prison officials over the prison's communications system."

On October 28, the agents used direction finding techniques and traced the source of the interfering radio frequency transmissions on 465.300 MHz to a residence in Cocoa, Florida. The frequency 465.300 MHz is allocated to public safety stations; as an Advanced class licensee, VanVolkenburg does not hold privileges to operate in this portion of the spectrum. In addition, the FCC's records showed that no authorization was issued to anyone to operate a private land mobile station at this location.

"Approximately two hours after locating the source of the transmissions, agents from the Tampa Office inspected the radio stations in Mr VanVolkenburg's residence," the FCC noted. "The agents recognized Mr VanVolkenburg's voice as the one interfering with the prison's communications system. Mr VanVolkenburg initially showed the agents an Amateur Radio [that was] incapable of transmitting on 465.300 MHz, but eventually produced an Alinco DJ-C5 portable radio transceiver that could operate on 465.300 MHz."

According to the NAL, VanVolkenburg "did not specifically admit that he had interfered with the prison's communications system, but when asked about the transmissions on 465.300 MHz and the interference to the prison's communications systems, he stated that he chose 465.300 MHz because the prison's transmissions on that frequency were strong; that he was only using 300 mW and did not think that he 'could talk over anyone and therefore wasn't interfering with anyone'; and that the interference would not happen again."

Although VanVolkenburg holds an Amateur Radio license, it does not authorize him to operate on public safety frequencies. "Part 15 of the Commission's rules sets out the conditions and technical requirements under which certain radio transmission devices may be used without a license," the FCC explained in the NAL. "In relevant part, Section 15.209 of the rules provides that non-licensed transmissions in the 216-960 MHz band is permitted only if the field strength of the transmission does not exceed 200 μV/m at 3 meters. The agents observed the transmissions on 465.300 MHz at a distance of approximately 2 miles from VanVolkenburg's residence. Given the distance from the source, the agents determined that the transmissions' field strength exceeded allowable Part 15 levels."

Read more on: http://www.arrl.org/news/florida-ham-issued-25-000-fine-for-operating-an-unlicensed-radio-transmitter-and-interfering-with-li

 

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

Jaisakthivel, ADXC, Tirunelveli, India

Turn Facebook friends into a radio station with EQuala

Using EQuala, you can create a personalized radio station based on the music your Facebook friends have been listening to, and control how much influence each person has over the tunes you hear. As a publication that tracks the crowded digital music ecosystem, we know all too well the simple act of choosing what to use for music each day can be as daunting as it is enjoyable. Each new day brings a new set of music products and services. Luckily, many of them do something new, and ListnPlay's EQuala (iOS and Android; free) is one of these, thankfully. We've seen apps that help you discover and listen to your friends' favorite music before, but EQuala goes an extra step with a personalized Internet radio station that is based directly on what your friends are (or have been) listening to -- and giving you control over which friends are included, and how much influence they have. This lets you weed out the duds.

Then, it's time to build your radio station out of Facebook friends and/or EQuala users. To ascertain whether a friend is worthy of your station, click on any person in your search results to see what songs they've listened to recently on any Facebook-connected music service (which is most of them). Once you've (literally) populated your station, visit the EQualizer to customize it -- or, as ListnPlay would have it, "equalize your friends" in order to "commusicate." You'll see each chosen friend on his or her own sliding scale (see screenshot). You can adjust them left or right to determine how much influence they'll have on your station. If you like someone's taste in music, but only in smaller doses, simply slide them lower on the scale. When you're happy with your adjustments, hit play and enjoy. You can always add and delete friends from the EQualizer later.

Just as your friends are a source of music for you, you are also a source of music for them. They'll see what you listen to in any Facebook-connected music service, but you can also insert a song into your friends' stream by giving it a "shout out." Each shout out gets compiled into your music "DNA" profile -- the same one that can give you a percentage score for how similar you are to any Facebook or Equala friend, in terms of the music you listen to.

"EQuala revives the idea of listening to music with your friends, as opposed to the isolated listening experience of yet another content-based playlist," EQuala co-founder and CEO Lior Aharoni told Evolver.fm. "EQuala gives music a truly social context, as songs are connected to specific people, who leave footprints that embody their own taste." In our time so far with EQuala, we've found that it does provide a neat social context for music, and a neat new way to listen. The app makes it so easy to get the music playing; add and delete friends; and adjust their influence, that we found ourselves experimenting with our station a great deal.

Source: Aarti Kelapure Via http://howto.cnet.com

Govt to announce free news for FM radio in 2014

With the budget bringing in hope for FM Phase III auctions, the government seems to be working around the clock to ensure further betterment of the medium.  With repeated requests and plea from private FM radio operators, the government has agreed and is set to announce free news by 2014.

Monitoring of content was one of the major reasons to restrict FM radio stations from broadcasting news. But considering the need of radio stations to air news, government has decided to work jointly with the Association of Radio Operators for India (AROI) and Broadcast Engineering Consultant India Limited (BECIL) to set up national monitoring service and self-regulation model to enable FM stations to broadcast their own news.

Confirming the news with Radioandmusic.com, AROI secretary general Uday Chawla says, "India is the only free democratic country across the globe where there is no free news, so the government is working towards announcing that soon. Right now, the news being attained from AIR is a temporary step and by 2014 we should be able to set up the systems to monitor the content."

While the BECIL is working on setting up the technical systems for the monitoring service, AROI is currently in talks to form the regulatory model which should be ready by March. As per sources, the government has allocated huge budget for the entire project.

BECIL chairman K Subramanian says, "BECIL will install the monitoring service systems. The project is in pre-mature stage as the government procedures take time."

The move will allow broadcasters, some of which are already owned by bigger standalone companies, to easily create their own content from various news agencies present. This will in turn also increase tie-ups further signaling newer revenue earning streams for the stations. As per sources, the content to be aired will be monitored very closely.

"Presently, a lot of meetings are happening to work on a self-regulation model for the news broadcast by the players. While the technical systems should be ready in few months, we will try and finish the model by March," Chawla adds.

If all falls in place, 2014 will be a phenomenal year for players as FM phase III expansion policy will also come into play. Read more on  radioandmusic.com

Source: .Chandni Mathur Via radioandmusic.com 4/3.

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

Jaisakthivel, ADXC, Tiruncelveli, India

Call for Suggestions for the Expert Committee on Prasar Bharati

The Government of India has set up an Expert Committee under the

chairpersonship of Mr Sam Pitroda to review the functioning of Prasar
Bharati. The committee's terms of reference include sustaining,
strengthening and amplification of Prasar Bharati's role as a public
broadcaster, with a special reference to its relationship with Government,
in the emerging context; a review of the status of implementation of
recommendations made by various committees that have undertaken the study
of Prasar Bharati, and suggesting a roadmap for enhancing Prasar Bharati's
reach and potential; digitisation of the archival material in the
possession of Doordarshan and All India Radio, including material from the
Independence Movement era, and the development of enabling infrastructure;
use of new media to deliver digital content; ensuring a wider reach to a
worldwide audience; and any other statutory issue. The committee has
decided to study all relevant areas related to Prasar Bharati, viz., the
Prasar Bharati-Government relationship, technology, business development,
finance, HR & organisation, content & programming, archiving, presence on
social and other new & emerging media platforms, global initiatives,
regulatory mechanism, and comparison with other public service broadcasters.

The committee has invited views/suggestions from the public on its terms of
reference, including in relation to the areas mentioned above. Accordingly,
all interested persons and organisations are requested to send their
views/suggestion by 14th April 2013 at

Online Form - http://www.prasarbharaticommittee.in/feedback

or via post addressed to
PRASAR BHARATI COMMITTEE SECRETARIAT
2nd Floor, PTI Building Sansad Marg, New Delhi-110001

http://www.prasarbharaticommittee.in/call-for-suggestions

[Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi]

Prasar Bharati gets Rs 2,180 cr as grants-in-aid

National broadcaster Prasar Bharati was today allocated a sum of Rs 2,180 crore as grants-in-aid under the annual budget for 2013-14, which is a 26 per cent increase over the amount received in the previous fiscal.

As per the revised estimates for fiscal 2012-13, Rs 1,729 crore had been granted to Prasar Bharati. Apart from the Rs 2,180 crore as grants-in-aid, Prasar Bharati has also been allocated another Rs 200 crore under the head of Investment in Public Enterprise.

The ministry's budget has also increased by nearly 12.6 per cent from the Rs 2,693 crore in the Revised estimates for 2012-13 to Rs 3,035 crore for 2013-14.

The grants-in-aid to Prasar Bharati form the largest component in the allocation that Finance Minister P Chidambaram has given to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. Of the amount allocated to the I&B Ministry, Rs 2,130 crore is under Non-Plan category while Rs 905 crore falls under Plan category.

From the amount allocated to the I&B Ministry, Rs 239 crore has been allotted for Advertising and Visual Publicity for 2013—14 which is again a strong increase compared to the previous year's revised estimate of Rs 158.42 crore. Among other allocations are Rs 117 crore for Films and Rs 61 crore for Press Information Services.

I&B Minister Manish Tewari had been one of the first leaders to express satisfaction with the annual budget.

Tewari's reaction came on social networking site Twitter where he posted, "The three P's of FM's budget — prudent, productive & progressive. It would boost growth and augment equity — UPA's guiding philosophy."

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/

Frequenting the air waves

All India Radio is reinventing itself to be in tune with the times

Once upon a time, people used to wake up to All India Radio's (AIR)
signature tune followed by Vande Mataram and Mangal Dhwani and listened to
the early morning news before starting their day. The names of the news
readers and announcers in those days were household names across the
country.

AIR or Akashvani as it is also called, ruled the air waves till Doordarshan
came on the scene as a national broadcaster in 1982. Today there are 837 TV
channels and 245 private FM stations. Has that impacted AIR's listenership
as many people think?

Read this excellent article published in today's "Hindu" :

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/frequenting-the-air-waves/article4446567.ece

[Alokesh Gupta,New Delhi, DX India YG]

BBC World Service shortwave radio blocked in China

The BBC has said shortwave broadcasts in English of World Service radio are being jammed in China. In a statement, the corporation said it was not possible to determine exactly where the blocking was coming from. But it said the "extensive and co-ordinated efforts are indicative of a well-resourced country such as China". "The BBC strongly condemns this action which is designed to disrupt audiences' free access to news and information," said the statement.

More at :   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-21575913

[Alokesh Gupta,New Delhi, DXLD]

_

DW KLICK Contest

DW Global Media Forum Klick Award 2013.

Send or post your Snaps on Sustainable economy by April 10, 2013 and win Prizes.

Details on http://www.dw.de/global-media-forum/klick-award/s-30930

[Ashik, Rajshahi,Bangladesh]

__._,_.___

Radio Kotagiri 90.4 Mhz inaugurated

Radio Kotagiri, the Community Radio Station operating on 90.4 MHz from Nilgiris, Tamilnadu was inaugurated yesterday, 16 Feb 13.

For more details please see:

http://keystone-foundation.org/radio-kotagiri-our-community-radio-goes-live/

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/community-radio-stations-may-get-support-scheme/article4423957.ece

[Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Via DX_India YG]

Want to start a Community Radio?

World Radio Day in MS University, Tamil Nadu

World Radio Day in Tamil Nadu

Shortwave radio stations play a important role in Tamil speaking countries. Particularly in India, Tamil Nadu state has a lot of radio listeners. Still in the social networking world, many of them like to listen the Tamil Shortwave International radios like BBC, CRI, RV, RVA, FEBC, AWR, SLBC and more.

On 13 Feb 2013 we organize a special speech on "International Radios and Tamil" by the Veteran International Radio Critic Mr.Pathamadai S.Kandasamy in our Department of Communication, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. For more details contact ardicdxclub (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) in

Come and join with us on World Radio Day

Govt allocates Rs 100 cr for community radio in 12th Plan

Five hundred community radio stations are to be set up during the plan

period
Vidhi Choudhary

Mon, Feb 11 2013. 04 09 PM IST
New Delhi: The government has allocated Rs 100 crore for community radio in
the 12th Plan (2012-17), said Manish Tewari, minister of information and
broadcasting, while delivering the valedictory address at the third
National Community Radio Sammelan on Monday.
Five hundred community radio stations are to be set up during the plan
period. The government has allocated Rs 90 crore for financial support and
Rs 10 crore for training, capacity building and awareness campaigns of
community radio stations, Tewari said.

Source : http://tinyurl.com/cu82h8e

Via Alokesh Gupta,  [dx_india YG] 

CRS can relay All India Radio news bulletins: Varma

Community radio stations can re-transmit news of All India Radio

bulletins, even as the government once again turned down the demand for
airing of local news bulletins.

The government has also taken a decision to waive spectrum fee for
community radio stations, though the orders in this connection will be
announced as soon as the Telecom Ministry completes the necessary
formalities. The spectrum fee of Rs 19,000 had recently been increased to
Rs 91,000 and posed a major burden on the CR stations.

Information and Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Uday Kumar Varma said,
"Even for FM which is a far more commercial venture, we have not allowed
news which they can create on their own, but we have in the proposed policy
that they could perhaps use the AIR news. I am willing to offer that to
you."

Full story at :
http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/crs-can-relay-all-india-radio-news-bulletins-varma

Via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi  [dx_india YG]