Prasar Bharti to be overhauled soon

Prasar Bharti to be overhauled soon

Courtesy: Zeenews.com
Saturday, March 30, 2013

New Delhi: A number of measures like improved content, setting up of a recruitment board, and filling up of vacant posts have been announced to invigorate Prasar Bharti - the country's public broadcaster. 

Of the 3,452 posts which were identified as critical for operations in June, 2009, 1,150 have been filled and a proposal to fill the remaining is under active consideration, a statement issued by Prasar Bharti said Thursday. 
Approval has also been accorded to fill 3,023 posts in various categories like production assistant, cameraman, technician and head clerks, among others. 

"This is the first major recruitment in Prasar Bharati in 15 years," the statement said. 

To improve the look, feel and content to attract more listeners and viewers, "distinguished professionals have been engaged", it added. 

"The ministry of information and broadcasting has set up an expert committee (headed by Sam Pitroda, advisor to the prime minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations) which will suggest the restructuring of Prasar Bharati," the broadcaster said. 

More at : http://zeenews.india.com/news/delhi/prasar-bharti-to-be-overhauled-soon_838753.html

Antidote to radio harassment

Antidote to radio harassment
SUMI SUKANYA, Saturday , March 30 , 2013 |
Courtesy: The Telegraph, Kolkata

New Delhi, March 29: The information and broadcasting ministry has asked All India Radio (AIR) to get its casual artistes evaluated by a panel of external experts to prevent their alleged sexual exploitation by seniors on the pretext of career enhancement.

The directive comes after radio presenters employed with a Prasar Bharati-run channel alleged sexual harassment at workplace earlier this month.

The All India Radio Broadcasting Professionals Association (AIRBPA) had filed a complaint with the Delhi Commission for Women on March 6, stating they were facing sexual harassment at AIR’s FM Gold radio station.

The AIRBPA later approached the National Commission for Women (NCW) with the complaint.

Following this, the ministry formed a committee to look into the allegations. Although the committee has not yet presented its conclusive report, it recommended some measures and changes in the functioning of the channel to safeguard the interests of women employees.

“The recommendations have not been approved yet and, therefore, cannot be made public. But one of the most important suggestions is that performance of ad hoc employees be judged by outsiders,” said a ministry official.

More at: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130330/jsp/nation/story_16727222.jsp#.UVfOJBemh_Q

Prasar Bharati Act authorises AIR to broadcast paid commercials: HC - The Hindu

Prasar Bharati Act authorises AIR to broadcast paid commercials: HC - The Hindu

Courtesy : K. T. SANGAMESWARAN, The Hindu
CHENNAI, March 30, 2013

The Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act authorises broadcasting of paid commercials by All India Radio (AIR), the Madras High Court has said.

Dismissing in limine a public interest litigation petition seeking a declaration that broadcasting of paid commercials in AIR was illegal and unconstitutional, the First Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice R.K. Agrawal and Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar said the statutory provisions made it abundantly clear that the Prasar Bharati Corporation, particularly its Board, was empowered to determine and levy fee and other service charges in respect of the advertisements. Hence, the petitioner’s contention that broadcasting of paid commercials was repugnant to the Act had no basis. In fact, Section 12 (7) authorised broadcasting of paid commercials.

More at : http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/prasar-bharati-act-authorises-air-to-broadcast-paid-commercials-hc/article4562347.ece

News Release regarding setting up of the Recruitment Board, Finalisation of Recruitment Regulations and Filling up the Vacant Post

INDIA's PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTER

 

PRASAR BHARATI

NEW DELHI

Dated: 28.3.2013

Concerted efforts are being initiated at the Prasar Bharati, after a gap of several decades, to revitalise India's Public Broadcaster and make it a true People's Channel. Efforts are now being made to improve the situation, by taking steps such as setting up of the Recruitment Board, finalisation of Recruitment Regulations and filling up the vacant posts.

 

Ø With these efforts made during the last one year, proposals for setting up of Prasar Bharati Recruitment Board and finalisation of Recruitment Regulations have been pushed through and are in the final stage of approval.

Ø 3452 posts which were identified as critical and approved by Group of Ministers as far back as June, 2009 are now being filled up. 1150 posts have already been cleared and proposal for clearance of the balance posts is under active consideration of Department of Expenditure. Approval has also been accorded for recruitment of Group B and C posts through Staff Selection Commission pending setting up of Recruitment Board. Advertisement for 3023 posts in various categories    (PEXs, TREXs, Production Assistants, Cameraman Grade II, Engineering Assistants, Technicians, Head clerks/ Assistants) have been released. This is the first major recruitment in Prasar Bharati in 15 years.

  

Ø To expedite Departmental Promotions Committees (DPCs), a High Power Committee has been constituted to scrutinise DPC proposals before these are referred to the Government so that the proposals are flawless and delay on account of cross references is avoided. Efforts are also being made to reduce stagnation to the extent possible by giving in-situ promotions, adhoc promotions as well as current duty charge of the higher posts. Wherever courts have given stay on holding DPCs, concerted efforts are being made to get the stay vacated in the interest of the employees.

 

Read more at http://prasarbharati.gov.in/NR/rdonlyres/1A0FEE21-8F52-4B4B-BC10-495A1DF2AE18/20357/NewsReleaseason28032013.pdf 

DD Bharati lines up Holi programmes

 DD Bharati lines up Holi programmes: Indiantelevision.com >

Courtasy: Indiantelevision.com Team

(26 March 2013 6:35 pm)

NEW DELHI: Doordarshan will telecast a special programme, ‘Holi Khel manaa Re’, based on folk music and skits to mark the festival of Holi. The programme will be telecast on 26 March at 10 pm on DD Bharati. On 27 March, DD Bharati will have celebrate programmes linked to the festival. These include ‘Hola – the mighty colour’, a film by Films Division on Holi in Punjab’s Anandpur Saheb where celebrations include display of traditional martial prowess. This will be telecast at 3 pm. At 4.30 pm, the channel will telecast ‘Brijwasin Ke Sang, Hori Ke Rang’ from Mathura on the famous Barsana Holi. This will be followed by a documentary, Fagun Ke Rang, Holi Ke Sang at 5.30 pm, a musical treat ‘Sangeet Samay’ at 6 pm and Holi Aayee Re from Rajkot in Gujarat at 7 pm. More at: http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k13/mar/mar240.php

DIRECT RECRUITMENT TO THE POST OF PEXs IN PRASAR BHARATI

Apprehensions are being expressed by some of the employees of Prasar Bharati that the direct recruits who would be appointed would gain seniority over the promotees as per general instructions on seniority issued by DOP&T. They also feel that in view of acute stagnation in various cadres, especially, PEX Cadre (as a large number of TREXs are stagnating due to non-availability of vacancies), direct recruitment need to be avoided.

Read more at http://prasarbharati.gov.in/NR/rdonlyres/1A0FEE21-8F52-4B4B-BC10-495A1DF2AE18/20216/DirectRecruitmenttothePostofPEXsinPrasarBharatithr.pdf 

Prasar Bharati advertises for filling around 1200 critical posts

Source: radioandmusic.com | B B Nagpal

25 Mar 13 17:50 IST

NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati, which has not had any senior-level recruitment since it came into being in September 1997, has finally advertised for filling 1166 posts for programme executives, production assistants and duty officers.

The notice in Employment News says 'Prasar Bharti notifies Combined Recruitment for the Post of Programme Executive and Transmission Executive Examination' and the last date for applications is 19 April.

The posts will be filled after interviews by the staff selection committee.

Interestingly, this figure is higher than the announcement of 1150 posts cleared by the government late last year.

In AIR, there are 1362 vacancies in Group A, 1,584 in Group B, 4863 in Group C and 2272 in group D.

In Doordarshan, 724 posts are vacant in Group A, 1140 in Group B, 2871 in Group C, and 1451 in Group D.

All India Radio and Doordarshan have total staff strength of 33,800 against a total sanctioned strength of 48,022, leaving a gap of 14222 posts. 

Read more at http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/prasar-bharati-advertises-filling-around-1200-critical-posts

All India Radio releases five CDs of recordings of Mallikarjun Mansur

Source: The Hindu |

Published: March 25, 2013 00:00 IST | Updated: March 25, 2013 06:02 IST

Staff Correspondent

All India Radio (Akashvani) has brought out five audio CDs of songs of Hindustani vocalist Mallikarjun Mansur. The recordings are from the archives of All India Radio.

Additional Director-General of Akashvani and Doordarshan T. Jaylal released the audio volumes titled 'Akashvani Sangeet' at Srijana Rangamandir on Karnatak College Campus on Saturday.

It was an emotional moment for son Pt. Mallikarjun Mansur, Rajashekhar Mansur who said that although he had the dream of bringing out the Vachanas rendered by his father in a CD format, it didn't materialise. However, he was happy that Akashvani had brought out the same in five CDs.

Read more at http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/all-india-radio-releases-five-cds-of-recordings-of-mallikarjun-mansur/article4545972.ece

Sonia Gandhi announces All India Radio studio in Rae Bareli

Source: radioandmusic.com | RnM Team 25 Mar 13 14:35 IST

MUMBAI: United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi today announced to set up an All India Radio (AIR) studio in Rae Bareli.

Laying foundation stone of 22 nd AIR FM transmitter at district headquarters, she said authorities will look into the public demand for studio. The government has sanctioned about Rs 10 Crore 50 Lakhs for the project. Initially setting up of a studio was included in the project.

The FM radio station will be set up in the area of 2.86 acre of land and will be commissioned within a year.

Read more at: http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/sonia-gandhi-announces-all-india-radio-studio-rae-bareli

OB van goes up in flames at Bajwa coronation

Source: The Indian Express | Express news service  

Chandigarh, Sun Mar 24 2013, 02:22 hrs

A Doordarshan Outdoor Broadcasting (OB) van burst into flames outside the Punjab Congress Bhawan, Sector 15, Saturday. The fire broke as the live broadcasting of the installation ceremony of the new Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Partap Singh Bajwa was in progress.

Sub-Inspector Ajinder Singh told Chandigarh Newsline: "There was a shot-circuit in the van while Bajwa was giving a speech after his formal installation around 2.30 pm. One of the doordarshan crew members was inside the van whom we managed to rescue."

Full details at http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ob-van-goes-up-in-flames-at-bajwa-coronation/1092592/

Prasar Bharati Recruitment 2013: 1238 Programme & Transmission Executive

Prasar Bharati Recruitment 2013:  1238 Programme & Transmission Executive

Combined Recruitment for the post of Programme Executive and 

Transmission Executive – Examination – 2013 

Dates to Remember : 

Starting date for the Submission of Online Application Forms : 23.03.2013

Closing date for the Submission of Online Application Forms Part I : 17.04.2013

Closing date for the Submission of Online Application Forms Part II : 19.04.2013

Date of Written Exam : 02.06.2013

VACANCY DETAILS 

Total : 1238

Advertisement link: http://prasarbharati.gov.in/NR/rdonlyres/BD0A40E9-624A-4873-BFDA-4D28E4DD6A60/19537/CombinedRecruitmentofPEXandTREXinPrasarBharatiAdvt.pdf

All India Radio Plans To Make YouTube Its Destination Portal | Business 2 Community

All India Radio Plans To Make YouTube Its Destination Portal | Business 2 Community

YOUTUBE

By Prasant Naidu, Published March 20, 2013

Source: Business 2 Community

The present government has suddenly woken up to get everything on social media. Nothing wrong in it but what made them take so much time? Well keeping aside the pessimistic thought process, the big news is that All India Radio (AIR) or famously known as Akashvani has been launched on social media.

According to a blog post by Ministry Of Information and Broadcasting, Manish Tewari Minister for Information & Broadcasting yesterday launched the New Media Platforms of All India Radio with regard to Live Streaming of AIR Urdu Service, FM Gold, AIR YouTube Channel and Android based mobile phone application of AIR News.

The live streaming has been made available on the AIR website. The YouTube brand channel was launched a day before and has already secured more than 40 subscribers. The viewership is definitely going to increase due to the sheer quality of content that the channel is uploading on YouTube. AIR has uploaded some very interesting content such as excerpts from speeches made by Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, etc. The below video that AIR recently uploaded goes back to 1947 and shares the speech made by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru on the eve of Indian Independence.

Going further, the YouTube channel of AIR will share more interesting content from the archives. AIR eventually aims to make the YouTube channel as the go to destination portal for the entire AIR network.

Read more at http://www.business2community.com/youtube/all-india-radio-plans-to-make-youtube-its-destination-portal-0440884#bs8IY4PqMyqWm4Vz.99 

Source: http://www.business2community.com/youtube/all-india-radio-plans-to-make-youtube-its-destination-portal-0440884

All India Radio launches services on social media

Source: ibnlive.in.com | India, Posted on Mar 19, 2013 at 10:40pm IST

New Delhi: To carve a niche for itself on the social media, the All India Radio (AIR) has launched live streaming of its Urdu service, FM Gold on Youtube and an android based mobile phone application of for its news service. The services were launched by Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari.

Speaking on the occasion, Tewari said the advent of AIR on social media platforms was an important step in enhancing its outreach across the country. With the use of social media, people could now access the content of AIR in any part of the globe, he said.

For more read click on this link - http://ibnlive.in.com/news/all-india-radio-launches-services-on-social-media/379891-3.html

Prasar Bharati to upgrade infrastructure in NE

Source: HMAR IN| Posted on March 11, 2013

Guwahati, March 10, 2013: In a welcome gesture, the Prasar Bharati has assured steps to upgrade its technological and human resource infrastructure in the Doordarshan (DD) network across the North Eastern region shortly, besides setting up a round the clock (24×7) DD Assamese channel, said a press release of the League of TV Producers' Associations of North East India (TVPANEI).

These assurances were given to a league delegation by the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tiwari, Prasar Bharati Chief Executive Officer Jawahar Sircar and senior Prasar Bharati officials in a meeting with its delegation in New Delhi on March 4.

For more details click on this link:  http://hmar.in/?p=5027

All India Radio launches services on social media

An AIR YouTube channel and mobile applications for AIR News for Android-based mobile devices were also rolled out

 

Source: livemint.com| By Vidhi Choudhary

First Published: Tue, Mar 19 2013. 10 35 PM IST

A file photo of information and broadcasting minister Manish Tiwari. Photo: Ramesh Pathania/Mint

New Delhi: The ministry of information & broadcasting on Tuesday launched various Internet and mobile-based services for All India Radio (AIR) and other state-run radio channels.

The government launched a live streaming channel for AIR's urdu service and FM Gold. An AIR YouTube channel and mobile applications for AIR News for Android-based mobile devices were also rolled out.

"This is a landmark step in the history of AIR broadcasting as live webcasting would give the public broadcaster a new profile as far as news dissemination in real time is concerned. This initiative would also enable the listeners of AIR to access the archives at one click of a button," said Manish Tewari, minister for information and broadcasting.

These initiatives would also make AIR accessible for a global audience. "With the use of social media, people can now access the content of AIR in any part of the globe. It would also enable AIR to keep pace with contemporary trends in the social media space," said Tewari.

Link: http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/RpRApE5tvqO56KtaRSrv3N/All-India-Radio-launches-services-on-social-media.html

Information & Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari launches AIR Services on New Media Platforms

Source: India Education Directory.com |

Dated: Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Report by India Education bureau, New Delhi: The Minister for Information & Broadcasting Manish Tewari today launched the New Media Platforms of All India Radio with regard to Live Streaming of AIR Urdu Service, FM Gold, AIR Youtube Channel and Android based mobile phone application of AIR News.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Tewari said the advent of AIR on Social Media Platforms was an important step in enhancing its outreach across the country. This initiative would enable it to reach out to the audience that was accessing Social Media Platforms on 24 X 7 basis. It would also enable AIR to keep pace with contemporary trends in the Social Media space. With the use of Social Media, people could now access the content of AIR in any part of the globe. This was a landmark step in the history of AIR broadcasting, as live webcasting would give the public broadcaster a new profile as far as news dissemination in real time was concerned. This initiative would also enable the listeners of AIR to access the archives at one click of a button.

Regarding the Android based mobile application developed for accessing News stories from the AIR News Network, Sh. Tewari said, apart from catering to news and information needs of audiences both domestic and external, this innovative technology would enhance the profile, content and reach of its National and Regional bulletins in Regional Languages in the audio form. The integration with mobile applications would address the communication needs of the youth and the audience that followed new technologies. The Minister complimented AIR for developing special news based programmes through the Android Applications.

The launch function was attended by Secretary I&B, Chairperson Prasar Bharati, CEO Prasar Bharati and other senior officials of the Ministry and Prasar Bharati.

Highlights of the New Media Platforms:

Live Streaming of AIR URDU SERVICE & FM GOLD:

AIR URDU SERVICE

Urdu Service of All India Radio launched on 15th May, 1965 is one of the most popular Radio Channels in the Sub-continent. Urdu Service has gained a lot of mileage in broadcasting because of its rich content, presentation and performance. Seasoned and experienced broadcasters of yester years like Mujeeb Siddiqui, Iqbal Warsi, Mariam Kazmi, S. M. Shafique etc. have left an indelible mark on the listeners.

Some of the most popular programmes of Urdu Service include:

Tameel-e-Irshad, Aap ki Farmaish, Aap ki Pasand, Awaz De Kahan Hai, Jahan Numa, Aaj ki Baat, Manzar Pas Manzar and Fikr-o-Khyal and Roobaroo etc. Besides this, Urdu Service also broadcasts variety of programmes on Women, Children, Youth, Sports, Science, Health, Cultural/Literary etc.

FM Gold

FM Gold Channel came on air on 1st September, 2001. Broadcast from AIR Delhi as a niche infotainment channel, it has 30% News and Current Affairs component and 70% entertainment programming. FM Gold is available in the four Metros. The 24 Hour AIR's channel FM Gold - Khara Sona (Pure Gold) is available on 106.4 MHz and has been voted the most popular FM Channel in Delhi.

The live streaming of these two channels shall be available on the AIR website any time, anywhere across the world. www.allindiaradio.org & www.allindiaradio.gov.in

YouTube Channel of AIR

The YouTube channel of AIR shall initially carry the clips from AIR Archives portraying India's cultural diversity and the grandeur of heritage it has been known for in the comity of nations. AIR shall also use this portal for contemporary developments in India's socio-cultural life. The YouTube channel shall eventually into a full-fledged portal for the entire AIR network.

 

Link: http://indiaeducationdiary.in/Shownews.asp?newsid=20950

I&B Min launches AIR News Applications for android phones

Mar 19,  8:26 PM 

Courtesy: News On AIR

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari today launched new media platforms for All India Radio’s Urdu Service, FM Gold, AIR news for mobile phones and You Tube channel of AIR. 

Launching the services in New Delhi, he said, with the help of new technology, AIR services will now be available across the world through the Internet.

Mr Tewari said All India Radio and Prasar Bharati have achieved a milestone by providing AIR news on android-based mobile phones. 

Terming it as a better use of information technology, he said, News and Khabrain will now be available to the listeners every time.

On the ocassion, among others, Prasar Bharati Chairperson Mrinal Pandey, CEO Prasar Bharti Jawahar Sircar, Secretary in the ministry, Uday Kumar Verma, Director General of Doordarshan Tripurari Sharan, Director General AIR News Mrs Archana Dutta and Director General AIR, L D Mandloi were present.

Source Link: http://www.newsonair.nic.in/full_news.asp?top3=top

Prasar Bharati social media makes its debut on Twitter

Source: www.mediamughals.com | Shradha Chettri | By: Shradha Chettri

Dated: March 19, 2013

Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati social media has made its debut on Twitter today. One can now follow and tweet to Prasar Bharati @PBCSocialMedia. The government seems to be firm on turning the broadcaster into a public broadcaster in the truest sense of the term.

Likely, with an effort to improve interaction with the public one can sent suggestion on the means/ways that people want to interact with Prasar Bharati.

Further a separate website has been launched called the prasarbharaticommittee.in which would provide a platform for the people to interact with the expert committee devoted to the revamping of Prasar Bharti headed by Sam Pitroda.

However incase of someone without no presence in TWITTER can also write in the Facebook page of"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.

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.

Link: http://www.mediamughals.com/News/1/1/Article/11754/Prasar_Bharati_social_media_makes_its_debut_on_Twitter.htm

Prasar Bharati to get Rs 54 bn for hardware schemes in 12th Plan

Source: Indiantelevision.com | 16 March2013 09:42 am

 

NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati is to get an allocation of Rs 53.97 billion for hardware schemes of Doordarshan and All India Radio in the 12th Plan, though these schemes are yet to be approved.

Prasar Bharati sources told indiantelevision.com that Rs 29.5 billion is for new schemes and Rs 24.47 billion for continuing ones.

But the Government has clarified that there are no immediate plans of expansion of Doordarshan coverage through new transmitters, except for setting up a few in border areas.

A total of Rs 2.42 billion was spent on 1415 Doordarshan transmitters (relay centres) up to October 2012 during 2012-13, DD sources told indiantelevision.com.

Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources said a total of Rs 3.71 billion had been spent in 2011-12, Rs 3.66 billion in 2011-11, and Rs 2.86 billion in 2009-10.

These centres transmit 33 satellite channels, five All India channels, 11 regional channels, 16 state networks, one international and one HD channel.

A total of 41 low power transmitters including transmitters in tribal areas are being used only for partial transmission due to staff constraints, the sources said.

A total of six proposals had been received in 1009-10 for new Doordarshan kendras and five for new transmitters. While there has been no fresh request for new kendras, requests were received in 2010-11 for one transmitters, and three in 2011-12 from state governments.

Doordarshan at present covers 92 per cent of the population in terrestrial mode spread over 81 per cent of the area. All the areas uncovered by terrestrial mode have been provided with multi-channel TV coverage through Doordarshan's free-to-air DD Direct Plus and free connections with TV sets have been provided in some areas like the northeast and Jammu and Kashmir.

Link: http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k13/mar/mar140.php

Doordarshan should run a kids channel

Source:Indiantelevision.com

Dated: 13 March2013 9:04 pm

MUMBAI: Like its counterparts in UK and Australia, why doesn't India boast of a channel targeted at kids? That was the theme of a panel discussion at Ficci Frames 2013. Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar, who was expected to take part in the panel discussion, was conspicuous by his absence. The session that was supposed to discuss and deliberate upon the importance of a public kids' broadcaster went without government representation. The panelists comprised CFSI chairman Amol Gupte, Graphiti Multimedia chairman Ram Mohan, and International Advertising Association-India Chapter (IAA-IC) Secretary at Monica Tata. Graphiti Multimedia COO Munjal Shroff was moderator of the session. Tata, who was earlier with Turner International and was managing kids channels Cartoon Network and Pogo, said it was imperative for the government to enter the kids broadcasting space as part of its larger social responsibility. According to Tata, Doordarshan, the television arm of Prasar Bharati, with its huge reach through terestrial cable will go a long way in reaching kids who don't have access to quality content. Graphiti Multimedia chairman Ram Mohan, also known as father of Indian animation, felt a public-private partnership would go a long way in making this initiative a success. He also felt that a public-owned kids broadcaster would also give a fillip to Indian animation industry besides serving the larger social good - that of helping kids to develop life skills. The panelists agreed that the first step was to convince the government to launch such a channel. The content of the channel can be decided later. Tata believes that the channel should have content that is educating but also entertaining at the same time. CFSI chairman Amol Gupte feels that the time has come for the government to put its foot down and get working on the channel. Children, he noted, are exposed to all sorts of crass content that is having a negative impact on them. A DD kids channel would go a long way in plugging that need gap. Bennett Coleman and Company Limited (BCCL) Director AP Parigi feels the government should provide the highway to create centres of excellence in kids' broadcasting. He also reckoned that the government should have a incubation period of at least five years for the channel before it becomes viable. The curriculum of government-run schools should have synergy with the kids channel. While saying that the public kids channel should be a viable option, Tata felt that viability is a subjective term when it comes to a public enterprise. Graphiti's Munjal Shroff pointed out that the Ficci Media & Entertainment committee has been lobbying for the last four years with the Prasar Bharati to launch a kids channel without much success. Shroff also revealed that Sircar has promised to look into the issue. The plan, he further revealed, was to have a dedicated slot on DD which would later be spun-off into a full-fledged channel. The panelists urged the small gathering to take the issue up with the government to get them to fast-track the process of launching a children-centric channel. Gupte said, "We need advocacy groups to tell the government that this kind of a channel is the need of the hour as part of its larger social responsibility." The panelists also felt that a Sesame Street kind of an initiative to give children from under-privileged background a platform to learn skills should be replicated in India. Sesame Street is a long-running American children's television series. In India it airs on Cartoon Network as well as on DD.   Source Link: http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k13/mar/mar118.php

Prasar Bharati to spread reach of DD's international channel

Source: Business Standard | Press Trust of India | New Delhi March 3, 2013 Last Updated at 10:30 IST

 

Aiming to shore up its presence globally, national broadcaster Prasar Bharati is planning to hire a consulting agency to spread the reach of Doordarshan's international channel DD India.

Sources said Prasar Bharati has already begun its search for agencies.

"We have already invited expression of interest for eligible consulting agencies who can help in global distribution of DD India through suitable delivery platforms like Direct to Home, cable or IPTV in different regions of the world," a source said.

Sources said that firms with the required expertise can make their proposals by March 22.

To establish its reach worldwide, Doordarshan launched its international channel DD World in March, 1995 which was renamed as DD India in 2002.

DD India was launched with a mission to build bridges of communication with Indians living abroad and to showcase the India's culture, values, traditions, diversity, and unity to the world through high-quality programmes.

DD India is currently up-linked from New Delhi and can be watched in 146 countries through PAS -9 and PAS -10 satellites.

The channel carries news bulletins, features on topical events, entertainment programmes, feature films, music and dance, children programmes, events and tourism.

In addition to Hindi and English, programmes in Urdu, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati and Marathi form the channel's content.

 

Link: http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/prasar-bharati-to-spread-reach-of-dd-s-international-channel-113030300037_1.html

Prasar Bharati takes adequate steps to improve transmission quality: Tewari

Source: radioandmusic.com | RnM Team 12 Mar 13 12:12 IST

 

NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Manish Tewari today assured Parliament that the time of Urdu news from the Hyderabad Kendra of Doordarshan would be increased as the need arises.

The Minister said Prasar Bharati has informed that 44 regional units of News Services Division, All India Radio, broadcast regional news bulletins.

In addition to this, a regional news unit has been set up at Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir which broadcasts regional news bulletins.

In Doordarshan, 29 regional news units telecast regional news from its various Kendras.

He said in reply to another supplementary question that both AIR and Doordarshan regularly transmit programmes which help the farmer in learning about various cultivation techniques and keeping him updated about the latest in this particular field.

There are 48 regional news bulletins in 18 languages, which are produced centrally from the News Service Division of AIR. In addition to this, 181 bulletins in 74 languages are produced and broadcast from the RNUs, and this covers the 22 scheduled languages.

There are 1019 news-based programmes from RNUs in 21 languages which are broadcast. And this totally amounts to 117 hours and 15 minutes of programming per week. In addition to that, you have 290 headline bulletins from FM Rainbow in 15 languages.

He accepted a suggestion to make the news as local as possible and content rich and more focussed on local imperatives.

Tewari said in reply to another supplementary that Prasar Bharati had been taking steps to augment infrastructure both in terms of gathering of news and dissemination of news in Doordarshan and AIR. A process has been started of digitizing the various studios of Doordarshan to ensure that the quality of news which is broadcast is of the optimum level and this project will be completed by 2017. A total of 145 stations are currently being digitized.

In AIR, there are complaints which have come in that the medium wave transmission is not audible, and that, to a certain extent, is correct because over the years, the power of the transmitters have gone low because these are legacy equipment.

A total of 71 transmitters have been replaced in the 11th Plan and the power of 33 medium wave FM transmitters is being upgraded to see that broadcasting becomes better.

Prasar Bharati is also in the process of recruiting additional people and 1150 vacancies have been sanctioned.

NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Manish Tewari today assured Parliament that the time of Urdu news from the Hyderabad Kendra of Doordarshan would be increased as the need arises.

The Minister said Prasar Bharati has informed that 44 regional units of News Services Division, All India Radio, broadcast regional news bulletins.

In addition to this, a regional news unit has been set up at Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir which broadcasts regional news bulletins.

In Doordarshan, 29 regional news units telecast regional news from its various Kendras.

He said in reply to another supplementary question that both AIR and Doordarshan regularly transmit programmes which help the farmer in learning about various cultivation techniques and keeping him updated about the latest in this particular field.

There are 48 regional news bulletins in 18 languages, which are produced centrally from the News Service Division of AIR. In addition to this, 181 bulletins in 74 languages are produced and broadcast from the RNUs, and this covers the 22 scheduled languages.

There are 1019 news-based programmes from RNUs in 21 languages which are broadcast. And this totally amounts to 117 hours and 15 minutes of programming per week. In addition to that, you have 290 headline bulletins from FM Rainbow in 15 languages.

He accepted a suggestion to make the news as local as possible and content rich and more focussed on local imperatives.

Tewari said in reply to another supplementary that Prasar Bharati had been taking steps to augment infrastructure both in terms of gathering of news and dissemination of news in Doordarshan and AIR. A process has been started of digitizing the various studios of Doordarshan to ensure that the quality of news which is broadcast is of the optimum level and this project will be completed by 2017. A total of 145 stations are currently being digitized.

In AIR, there are complaints which have come in that the medium wave transmission is not audible, and that, to a certain extent, is correct because over the years, the power of the transmitters have gone low because these are legacy equipment.

A total of 71 transmitters have been replaced in the 11th Plan and the power of 33 medium wave FM transmitters is being upgraded to see that broadcasting becomes better.

Prasar Bharati is also in the process of recruiting additional people and 1150 vacancies have been sanctioned.

Link: http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/prasar-bharati-takes-adequate-steps-improve-transmission-quality-tewari

Reforming Prasar Bharati

Courtesy: Imphal Free Press

By B.G. Verghese, Saturday, 09 March 2013

Among the agenda of reforms being urged or promised, few are more needed, and overdue, than the grant of autonomy to the public service broadcaster, PrasarBharati. This, hopefully, is now on the anvil and, apart from preliminary steps already taken, such as a more professional approach to newscasting, a Committee has been set up under Sam Pitroda to make specific recommendations for the future. The new Minister for I&B, Manish Tewari, has come in with a new broom and some cobwebs have started disappearing.

The Government’s communication policy, or rather the appalling lack of one, has had a crippling effect on public relations and national morale as AIR and DD came to be used as a propaganda trumpet rather than as a voice of India to its multitudinous diversity. Now that reform is promised, one must beware inventing a solution in search of a problem.  That such a danger lurks is evident in a roundtable broadcast over DD recently where there was a certain lack of clarity on the subject.

The first fallacy is that PrasarBharati (PB) is His Master’s Voice, a creature of the Union Government. This it is not. It is a national public trust whose purpose and functions are spelt out in Section 12 of the PB Act, 1990. Prime among these is “safeguarding the citizen’s right to be informed freely, truthfully and objectively on all matters of public interest, national or international, and presenting  affair and balanced  flow of information, including contrasting views, without advocating any opinion or ideology of its own”. The Act requires Parliament to make due appropriations for PB which is accountable to it through the Ministry of I&B and its annual report. Additional funding is permitted through broadcast receiver licence fees, currently not levied, commercial broadcasting, sale of programmes, etc.

Broadcast information is a service like the supply of electricity, water and telephony; but, unlike the others, it is somehow considered a free good. The PB Act permits the Corporation to levy fees for all external and monitoring services in the same manner as the BBC is funded by the Foreign Office for its external services. This is not being done. It is however being selectively paid for other home service extension broadcasts, though not in a uniform, standardised manner. 

Personnel policy has been a huge millstone around PB’s neck as the bulk of its staff remain seconded from government cadres and are therefore under the discipline of the Department of Personnel.  Lazy staffers prefer the security of government service while the government enjoys the power of cadre control. There is a fierce official reluctance to let go.  Even the CEO, Directors of Finance and Personnel and other senior staff are primarily selected from among government servants. There are certainly good people in the official ranks but to exclude others in the first place is clearly anomalous. In-house engineers too are excluded from programme jobs. This again is discriminatory and makes no sense. This is autonomy with fetters.

In a classic case, S.Y. Quraishi, a Haryana IAS cadre officer,  selected by PB’s first in-house recruitment board to be DG Doordarshan, was summarily removed by an illegal and underhand Governmental fiat for the ostensible reason than that his cadre control officer allegedly wanted him back in Government!

PB has been a hardware-led organisation with a surfeit of transmitters and relay stations and a corresponding complement of engineers who far outnumber the programme staff. This is a top-heavy structure with huge idle capacity and a paucity of programme content or staff. It had neglected foreign language development with the loss of the old monitoring service and is unable satisfactorily to reach the world outside its borders. Great events are currently going on in all of South Asia, but PB has little capacity or capability to reach out and report let alone interpret these events to its domestic audience. People tune into the BBC and CNN to find out what is going on in Bangladesh and Myanmar, Southeast and West Asia, Africa, China and Latin America. It has few foreign correspondents or stringers. Equally, the voice of India is scarcely heard abroad.

Why should PB not have regular daily and weekly bulletins or round ups on its near and further neighbourhood with good commentaries on economic, political and cultural developments.  Where are the in-house commentators and in-house productions that once made AIR and early-PB lively channels? The talent is there.  Likewise, why should PB not have more community and local broadcasts to reach out and down to the grassroots as intended, because of a crippling paucity of programme staff?

One answer would be to farm out idle time to local community broadcasters and institutions on payment so that the transmitters are optimally utilised. Some franchising is being done but not in a structured manner. The other option- and the two are not mutually exclusive - would be to hive off the entire transmission system into an independent PB Transmission Corporation that would be free to service private and commercial broadcasters  and become an independent and highly remunerative profit centre. Such a proposition was indeed examined by a committee PB appointed quite some years back under the late P.V Indiresan, in collaboration with the French broadcasting organisation, and found feasible. Unfortunately the idea was not pursued as PB was mired in its own problems and inhibitions.

More at: http://www.ifp.co.in/nws-12841-reforming-prasar-bharati/