High-level committee headed by Dr. Sam Pitroda to look into role of Prasar Bharati | Business Standard

High-level committee to look into role of Prasar Bharati

Courtesy:  Business Standard/ Press Trust of India / New Delhi, 29 January 2013

To review the institutional framework of Prasar Bharati including its "relationship with the government," a high-level committee headed by technocrat Sam Pitroda has been set up to look into the role of the public broadcaster. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry today said it has constituted a seven-member expert committee "for the purpose of reviewing the institutional framework of Prasar Bharati including its relationship with government, its continuing role as a public broadcaster and measures needed to ensure technical upgradation of the organisation." The committee, led by Pitroda, who is the advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations, would "suggest measures to sustain, strengthen and amplify Prasar Bharati's role as a public broadcaster with special reference to its relationship with government in the emerging context," the Ministry said in a statement. More at : http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/high-level-committee-to-look-into-roleprasar-bharati/116012/

High-level committee to look into role of Prasar Bharati

Source: Business Standard|Press Trust of India|New Delhi|14:05

Published Date: Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013

 

To review the institutional framework of Prasar Bharati including its "relationship with the government," a high-level committee headed by technocrat Sam Pitroda has been set up to look into the role of the public broadcaster.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry today said it has constituted a seven-member expert committee "for the purpose of reviewing the institutional framework of Prasar Bharati including its relationship with government, its continuing role as a public broadcaster and measures needed to ensure technical upgradation of the organisation."

The committee, led by Pitroda, who is the advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations, would "suggest measures to sustain, strengthen and amplify Prasar Bharati's role as a public broadcaster with special reference to its relationship with government in the emerging context," the Ministry said in a statement.

The committee would review the status of implementation of recommendations made by various committees that have undertaken studies on Prasar Bharati --- the Sengupta committee, the Bakshi committee and the Narayanamurthy committee -- and suggest a road map ahead for enhancing the reach and potential of the broadcaster.

It would also suggest measures to digitise the archival material in the possession of Doordarshan and All India Radio including material from Independence movement era, and develop enabling infrastructure, in the form of data digitalisation systems, data centres and networks, I&B ministry said.

The committee would also suggest ways of using the new media to deliver digital content - both in broadcast mode (DTH) and in a demand-based mode (Free on social media like You-Tube, and on payment through IPTV).

Apart from Pitroda, other members of the committee are former I&B Secretary Asha Swaroop, Dr B K Gairola, Mission Director (e-Governance), Shekhar Kapur, member of the National Innovation Council, Prof. M P Gupta of IIT Delhi and J S Mathur, Additional Secretary, I&B Ministry.

Jawhar Sircar, Chief Executive, Prasar Bharati would be the Member (Convenor) of the committee.

 

Link: http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/high-level-committee-to-look-into-roleprasar-bharati/116012/

DD to get facelift: Prasar Bharti hoping to revive fortunes - CNBC-TV18

DD to get facelift: Prasar Bharti hoping to revive fortunes - CNBC-TV18

Courtesy : CNBC-TV18

Faced with intense competition, public broadcaster, Doordarshan is going in for a facelift. With a new programming strategy in place, the plan is to first revive DD national and DD news, followed by it's other national and regional channels, but is it enough to revive the ailing broadcaster?, reports CNBC-TV18’s Pavni Mittal.
 
Prasar Bharti is hoping to revive the fortunes of public broadcaster Doordarshan. Despite having the largest network in India, it is losing viewer ship to private GEC and news channels. While DD news is expected to see an introduction of panel discussions during the 8 to 10 pm prime time slot, entertainment channels like DD Bharti and DD National will have new shows that have a greater youth appeal.

Tripurari Sharan, Director General, Doordarshan says, "We are re looking at our programmes. The objective is to be able to reach our target audience more effectively. For example, we also want to create and put together shows, which on a daily basis touches chords of young population of India. They are the majority viewers whether rural or urban. Other is to emphasize our USP in our program, which is meaningful entertainment. It also brings works of great masters, and works by acclaimed directors and new people". They are getting full support from I&B ministry. It spends more than 70 per cent of its annual budget on Prasar Bharti.

Uday Varma, Secretary, Information & Broadcasting Ministry says, “More than Rs 100 crores are being provided to Prasar Bharti for salaries. So they don’t have to divert revenue from their own revenue for salaries. This is a huge step. Seocndly after long time the government has allowed them to recruit 1000 people, for critical positions. This may be the first step. There might be more permission given, so that Prasar Bharti's issue of shortage of man power is addressed. There are several other things. It has waived its loans, interest has been written off, money they powered to telecom ministry by way of spectrum charges have been waived off. So, Prasar Bharti should be able to begin with a clean slate".

More at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/cnbc-tv18-comments/dd-to-get-facelift-prasar-bharti-hoping-to-revive-fortunes_812335.html

Video report at :  http://www.moneycontrol.com/video/cnbc-tv18-comments/dd-to-get-facelift-prasar-bharti-hoping-to-revive-fortunes_812335.html

In the air, talk about 24×7 FM news - Indian Express

In the air, talk about 24×7 FM news - Indian Express

                                                           Photo Courtesy: Frontline
Courtesy: Manoj C G : New Delhi, Tue Jan 08 2013, Indian Express

You might have listened to hourly news bulletins on All India Radio's FM stations. Next up could be an FM station broadcasting news round the clock. AIR is now exploring the idea of launching what would be India's first 24×7 FM news channel. Sources said the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is keen on the idea and the proposal is at an advanced stage of consideration.

AIR's current FM station runs a news and current affairs component along with entertainment shows. Launched in 2001, AIR FM Gold, available in the four metros, is positioned as an infotainment channel since it has a 30 per cent news and current affairs component. AIR also runs a purely entertainment station, FM Rainbow.

"The idea is not to disturb these existing stations and launch a new 24×7 news channel. We are working out the modalities," an official said.

The government had in 2011 allowed private FM operators to broadcast news bulletins from AIR unedited. Non-news broadcasts pertaining to sporting events, traffic and weather, cultural events, festivals, admissions, examination results, and public announcements were also allowed.

Presently, AIR has over 205 FM transmitters across the country, covering about 36 per cent of the population. Sources said the proposed FM news station's thrust would be to cover more listeners than area, hence the initial focusing on the metros.

The move comes at a time when the rollout of the third phase of FM radio (FM-III) remains in a limbo. The Union Cabinet had in July 2011 cleared the ministry's proposal to extend FM radio services to 290 cities where 839 new channels were to be allocated through e-auctions.

More at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/in-the-air-talk-about-24-7-fm-news/1056094/

DD to get facelift: Prasar Bharti hoping to revive fortunes - CNBC-TV18

DD to get facelift: Prasar Bharti hoping to revive fortunes - CNBC-TV18

Faced with intense competition, public broadcaster, Doordarshan is going in for a facelift. With a new programming strategy in place, the plan is to first revive DD national and DD news, followed by it's other national and regional channels, but is it enough to revive the ailing broadcaster?, reports CNBC-TV18’s Pavni Mittal.

Prasar Bharti is hoping to revive the fortunes of public broadcaster Doordarshan. Despite having the largest network in India, it is losing viewer ship to private GEC and news channels. While DD news is expected to see an introduction of panel discussions during the 8 to 10 pm prime time slot, entertainment channels like DD Bharti and DD National will have new shows that have a greater youth appeal.

Tripurari Sharan, Director General, Doordarshan says, "We are re looking at our programmes. The objective is to be able to reach our target audience more effectively. For example, we also want to create and put together shows, which on a daily basis touches chords of young population of India. They are the majority viewers whether rural or urban. Other is to emphasize our USP in our program, which is meaningful entertainment. It also brings works of great masters, and works by acclaimed directors and new people". They are getting full support from I&B ministry. It spends more than 70 per cent of its annual budget on Prasar Bharti.

Courtesy : CNBC-TV18

More at : http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/cnbc-tv18-comments/dd-to-get-facelift-prasar-bharti-hoping-to-revive-fortunes_812335.html

All India Radio, Doordarshan set for poll broadcasts in NE states

Source: Radioandmusic.com | RnM Team

Dated: 21 Jan 13 12:06 IST

 

NEW DELHI: All India Radio and Doordarshan, which provide a platform for political parties to make poll broadcasts before every election, will also organize a maximum of two panel discussions and/or debates on the kendras/stations for the forthcoming elections to the state assemblies in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.

 

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 to six national and three state parties.

 

The facilities will be available from the Regional Kendra of the All India Radio and Doordarshan and in the headquarters of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura and relayed by other stations within the respective States.

 

A base time of 45 minutes will be given to each party uniformly on the Regional Kendra of Doordarshan network and All India Radio network and 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 from the States of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.

 

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 in the states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura. 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 Doordarshan and All India Radio.

 

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 Doordarshan and All India Radio by advance requests. In such cases, the recordings may be done at the State Capital and at timings indicated by Doordarshan/All India Radio in advance.

 

Time vouchers will be available in the denomination of 5 minutes with one voucher having time allotment from 1 to 4 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 in 1999, 2004 and 2009.

 

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 Election to the State Legislative Assemblies of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.

 

Link: http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/all-india-radio-doordarshan-set-poll-broadcasts-ne-states#story

Prasar Bharati India Recruitment 2013 prasarbharati.gov.in

Source: myresultsindia.blogspot.in

 

Prasar Bharati Recruitment 2013 prasarbharati.gov.in Application Form : .Prasar Bharati Private Secretary has invite application form from Indian citizen for filling up 3 Private Secretary vacancies. Eligible candidates can apply online before 7th February 2013. More details are given below.

.Candidates Prasar Bharati Recruitment 2013 prasarbharati.gov.in Post name, Age Details, Age relaxations, Educational Qualification, Salary, Selection process, How To Apply online for Prasar Bharati Recruitment 2013, Application Form Fee, Important dates like exam dates, online application date visit the given below link.

Prasar Bharati Recruitment 2013 –

http://ddindia.gov.in/NR/rdonlyres/E06488D4-0A92-4161-B8AC-5733B863B319/12433/3PSVacanciesondeputation.pdf

.Candidates if you want to received all latest updates about Prasar Bharati admit card, answer key, results 2013 via Facebook, then join us on Facebook page. Candidates Touch with us for more updates or book mark this page for future reference.

Read more: http://myresultsindia.blogspot.com/2013/01/prasar-bharati-india-recruitment-2013.html#ixzz2Im8Cs7m1

 

Link: http://myresultsindia.blogspot.in/2013/01/prasar-bharati-india-recruitment-2013.html

NE state polls: EC allots time to parties for broadcast

Source: zeenews.india.com |

Last Updated: Friday, January 18, 2013, 20:42

 

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Friday allotted broadcast and telecast time to political parties for carrying out their campaigns on Doordarshan and All India Radio for coming Assembly Elections in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland.

The Commission has decided to extend equitable time sharing for campaigning on the electronic media through Prasar Bharati Corporation. The use of broadcast and telecast time will be available only to national parties and recognised state parties.

This facility will be available from Regional Kendras of All India Radio and Doordarshan in the headquarters of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura and relayed by other stations within the respective states.

The Commission has said a base time of 45 minutes will be given to each national party and recognised state party uniformly on the Regional Kendra of Doordarshan network and All India Radio network in these states.

Additional time has been allotted to parties on the basis of their performance in the last polls, it said.

No party will, however, be allocated more than 15 minutes in a single session of broadcast and time vouchers will be issued in the denomination of five minutes to each of the six national parties - Congress, BJP, BSP, CPI, CPI-M and NCP, besides three state parties - United Democratic Front (UDP), Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Naga People's Front (NPF).

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 in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.

"There will, however, 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," the Commission said in an order.

PTI

 

Link: http://zeenews.india.com/news/north-east/ne-state-polls-ec-allots-time-to-parties-for-broadcast_823709.html

I&B seeks to rein in unregulated news channels - The Times of India

I&B seeks to rein in unregulated news channels - The Times of India
Courtesy:  TNN , Times of India,| Jan 19, 2013, 

NEW DELHI: In an effort to rein in local cable channels that are broadcasting news over a wide geographical area, in some cases across states, I&B ministry has asked Trai to suggest a regulatory framework. Local cable channels come under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 but this has several loopholes, including lack of clear definition for a cable operator and its jurisdiction which allow them to operate without permission from the ministry. 

These loopholes have led to several instances where cable operators have begun broadcasting news over a larger area including intra-state and inter state transmission. The ministry on Friday asked Trai to put in place a comprehensive set of provisions relating to the registration mechanism, including eligibility criteria, fee, terms and conditions provided for such channels, clear definition of local or ground based channels and their area of operation.

In its reference, the ministry has also asked if there should be a cap in the total number of "ground based channels" operated by a single multi-system operator (MSO) or cable operator. Trai has also been asked to prescribe a separate eligibility criteria for cable operators transmitting local news and current affairs channels.

Specific recommendations have been sought with regard to eligibility criteria, terms and conditions including foreign investment levels, networth criteria and requirement of security clearance for such channels. "We have noticed that in nearly every city cable operations have consolidated and their influence has grown. This is disturbing because they are not registered with the ministry," a senior I&B official said.

More at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IB-seeks-to-rein-in-unregulated-news-channels/articleshow/18081797.cms

I&B ministry to examine Trai call on sarkari broadcasting - The Times of India

I&B ministry to examine Trai call on sarkari broadcasting - The Times of India
Courtesy:  TOI

NEW DELHI: The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry has set up an inter-ministerial committee — along the lines of the telecom commission — to examine the recent Trairecommendations advising against the entry of state and central government entering the broadcast sector. The committee is also likely to examine issues related to FM radio phase III that has been in the pipeline for some time now. 

I&B minister Manish Tewari said, "There was no institutional mechanism to examine the recommendations of Trai and that is why this inter-ministerial committee has been set up. It is in the mirror image of the telecom commission.''
More at  : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IB-ministry-to-examine-Trai-call-on-sarkari-broadcasting/articleshow/17976771.cms

Prasar Bharati Marketing Executives (Grade I / II) Recruitment 2013

Source: jobalertsindia.com

Last Updated: 2013-01-11T11:24:55+05:30

Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India), New Delhi, has invited applications from talented, capable and skillful candidates for recruitment 2013, for the posts of Marketing Executives, in Grade I and Grade II.

Candidates' appointment is to be done on contract basis for a period of one year, for Doordarshan Marketing Division, Mumbai. Selection of the candidates will be made on the basis of Walk-in Interview. The interview is scheduled to be held on January 15, 2013.

The interview will be held in the Office of Prasar Bharati Marketing Division, 6^th Floor, ASF Building, Worli, Mumbai (Maharashtra), from 09.45 am onwards. For complete details regarding the recruitment and eligibility criteria, candidates can visit the official website of Prasar Bharati: http://prasarbharati.gov.in/

Eligibility:

·      MBD Degree in Marketing or Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing from a recognized University / Institute

·      Candidates should be below the age of 35 years.

·      For more information regarding the eligibility criteria, candidates can visit the official link of Prasar Bharati: http://prasarbharati.gov.in/

How To Apply:

·      Candidates, who fulfill the eligibility criteria and are willing to apply, can appear for the Walk-in-Interview.

·      The interview is scheduled to be held on January 25, 2013, in the Office of Prasar Bharati Marketing Division, 6^th Floor, ASF Building, Worli, Mumbai (Maharashtra), from 09.45 am onwards.

·      Candidates appearing for the interview should bring their Curriculum Vitae, along with recent passport-size photograph, and Original & photocopies of all relevant certificates, with them.

·      For more information regarding the recruitment, candidates can visit the aforementioned official link of Prasar Bharati.

Registered Office:
Prasar Bharati
(Broadcasting Corporation of India)
Prasar Bharati Secretariat
PTI Building, 2nd Floor
New Delhi - 110001

 

Link: http://www.jobalertsindia.com/articles/prasar-bharati-marketing-executives-grade-i-ii-recruitment-2013-3229.html

Prasar Bharati, Recruitment For Retired Government Employees – January 2013

Source: sarkari-naukri.in

Date: 15^th January, 2013

Retired Government Employees

Prasar Bharati

Address: The Deputy Director (SCOR) Directorate General: Doordarshan Doordarshan Bhawan, Copernicus Marg

Postal Code: 110002

City New Delhi

State Delhi

Pay Scale: Minimum remuneration shall be last pay drawn minus pension plus variable DA.

Details will be available at: http://www.ddindia.gov.in/NR/rdonlyres/E06488D4-0A92-4161-B8AC-5733B863B319/12224/RetiredPersonsContractualEngagement.pdf

No of Post: 40

How To Apply: Attested photocopies of the following documents may be enclosed with the application:
(i) Last pay drawn certificate;
(ii) Pension payment order;
(iii) Photocopies of the ACR for the last 5 years; and
(iv) Residence Proof

Last Date: 31st January 2013

Age Limit: Below 65 years

Link: http://www.sarkari-naukri.in/jobs-by-state/retired-government-employees.html

Prasar Bharati to go for makeover, hire established anchors

Source: The Financial Express | PTI: New Delhi

Date: 10^th January, 2013-01-16

 

NEW DELHI: In a bid to spruce up its content and presentation, national broadcaster Prasar Bharati has decided to hire media professionals, including recognised anchors, from open market.

 

Besides established anchors from private news channels, professionals in areas like new media, marketing and branding would also be recruited, official sources said.

The move forms a part of the national broadcaster's overall strategy to rebrand Doordarshan's News and Urdu channels.

 

"There had been no recruitments in Prasar Bharati over a long period of time. It was felt that talent should be hired from open market to improve the look and content of the channels," they said.

 

The national broadcaster wants sharper news, better presentation and more aggressive marketing and promotion including in online media.

 

"Prasar Bharati also wants to increase its presence and promote its content on the internet -- an area which was previously ignored," they said.

 

In September last year, Prasar Bharati Board had given its go ahead to hiring of talent from the open market at prevailing market rates on contract basis, officials said.

 

During the NDA regime, Prasar Bharati had followed a similar strategy when media professionals from private channels had been hired from the open market to strengthen the working of the Doordarshan network.

 

Link: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/prasar-bharati-to-go-for-makeover-hire-established-anchors/1057566

All India Radio ropes students as broadcasters

Source: RadioandMusic.com | RnM Team

Date: 14^th January, 2013, 18:28 IST

 

MUMBAI: With constant innovations up their sleeves, All India Radio is ensuring all its stations move ahead in 2013 with unique strategies. Its Manjeri station in Kerala has gone down the path of change by employing student broadcasters for its programmes.

 

The station has selected a team of 26 students from across eight higher secondary schools in the Malappuram district. Having a journalism background, the students have been roped in to cover the annual 'All Kerala Youth State Schools Festival' from 14-20 January.

 

The fest features over 10,000 participants in 232 competitions across sectors like film, drama, music and literature. Having covered the fest every year, AIR aimed to provide more democracy in broadcasting and will witness the team of students participating and covering the live event. The students will host programmes like a one-hour special live from the field everyday at 7:30pm on the event, a special 15min chunk at 9:15pm and two minute slots aired throughout the day to update on news regarding the fest.

 

Speaking with Radioandmusic.com, All India Radio Manjeri programming head M Balakrishnan said, "This is the first year AIR has taken an initiative like this as we aim to fill up the gaps. The students who are participating at the event and covering it will be able to report better and there will be more genuineness in their stories. Its our initiative to get in more democracy in broadcasting. We have also designated slots throughout the day to focus on dedicated coverage of the event."

 

Even after the fest, the station is keen to take this initiative forward in the form of training the students in new media and technology, to provide employment in the station.

 

"All India Radio has witnessed a lot of change recently and we have upgraded our technology, as the transmitters are very good. The only drawback is the lack of manpower. We want the government to post more people here so that our engineering and programming departments are well looked after," he added.

 

Apart from that, they recently launched a new segment titled 'Human Rights Broadcast' as part of 'Open Radio'. The segment is featured during the daily news bulletin at 6pm. The 15minute bulletin features call-ins after the ninth minute, where callers can talk or share their views about a particular issue affecting them. They have also tied-up with women and child activists to report on any stories in the area.

With All India Radio revamping its stations across all cities, private broadcasters can now witness stiff competition as innovations are the focus now. Even AIR's Manjeri station will witness more such tie-ups with other festivals held in the state.

 

Link: http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/all-india-radio-ropes-students-broadcasters

Govt mulling to refer surrogate ownership issue to TRAI: MIB

Govt mulling to refer surrogate ownership issue to TRAI: MIB

New Delhi: Concerned over cases of "surrogate ownership" of broadcasting and distribution platforms by some political parties, government is planning to refer the matter to TRAI for its suggestions to carry out changes in the laws. 

"I don't think it requires any rocket science to figure out that there is surrogate ownership of both broadcasting mediums, as well as distribution mediums across the length and breadth of this country," Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told PTI. 

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has in its latest recommendations suggested that political entities should not be allowed to run television channels. The present rules, however, do allow players like Gujarat BJP's cable channel NaMo Tv and other politically affiliated individuals to be active in this sector. 

"Some of that surrogate ownership is ostensibly attributed to political parties or political entities. Some other is attributed to individuals. So there is definitely a play in the joints in so far as the legislative architecture or the law is concerned, and people have taken advantage of it," he said, while stressing for a need to update the laws governing this sector. 

"As we speak, we are in the process of formulating a reference to the TRAI to see how comprehensively, the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1994 needs to be updated so that all this can be brought on board," he said. 

The minister was responding to a query on government's stand regarding presence of political parties in the broadcasting sector. 

Tewari also stressed on the need to relook the kind of relationship that should exist between the government and the public broadcaster in a "changed scenario", saying an "arm's length distance" between the two was not possible if the national broadcaster's funding was routed through the ministry. 

"Prasar Bharati takes away two thirds of my budget. I am supposed to recruit for them. I am supposed to discipline them, but yet I am supposed have nothing to do with them. Now it is an oxymoron, which in real life does not work," Tewari said. 

"If there is a need for an arm's length relationship, how is that arm's length relationship to be ensured. These are questions which seriously need to be gone into. Because there cannot be, I am sorry to put it so bluntly, an arm's length relationship, if the appropriation of the Prasar Bharati goes through the I&B Ministry," he said. 

He said that in 1990, when the Prasar Bharati was created, there was only one channel while there are 852 channels at present. 

"So if Parliament, and I think this is something to which all of us should seriously apply ourselves to, if there is a feeling that this country requires a Public Broadcaster, then what should be the role of the public broadcaster in a changed scenario?" he asked. 

Another issue that needed to be settled was whether government could use television as an educational medium. He said that the HRD Ministry had worked on an ambitious proposal of starting scores of such channels. 

The TRAI has in its latest recommendations emphasised that no government entity should be allowed to enter broadcasting. 

Tewari said that these TRAI recommendations were being studied by an inter-ministerial group. This group would make recommendations which would be taken to the empowered Group of Ministers (GoM), he said. 

"Because at some point in time there has to be closure to these issues and that's what we are attempting to do. That once the TRAI has recommended, government takes a conclusive view one way or the other," Tewari said. 

Courtesy:
13 Jan 2013, ZeeNews,
 Source Article link: http://zeenews.india.com/news/delhi/govt-mulling-to-refer-surrogate-ownership-issue-to-trai-tewari_822648.html
PTI 

Prasar Bharati all set for a racy makeover - Times Of India

Prasar Bharati all set for a racy makeover - Times Of India

NEW DELHI: The staid public broadcaster, Prasar Bharati, is all set for a racy makeover. In the pipeline are fresh faces on Doordarshan's prime time with sharper reporting and analysis, 50% increase in new programming for channels like DD National and DD Urdu and a 24-hour news FM channel by All India Radio.

Prasar Bharati through DD and AIR will also significantly increase its presence on social media in the coming months. The "rebranding' exercise is in full swing with the soft launch of the new look DD expected on January 26. DD News is in the process of hiring recognized TV anchors who will anchor the prime time between 8pm to 10pm.

A breakfast show complete with market analysis and sharper reporting is next on the anvil. When asked about the changes I&B minister Manish Tewari told TOI, "This a rebranding exercise. Many of these proposals were at a consultative stage and the ministry has endorsed these decisions to improve the public broadcaster's services."

The move, is seen in some political quarters, as harking back to NDA's 2003 policy when well-recognized TV anchors were brought in to refurbish the government's image. Tewari, however, denies this saying, "Unlike what happened in 2003, where there was an element of micro-management, here we have kept an arm's length separation whereby all initiatives are born and CEO-driven (Prasar Bharati CEO). The ministry only weighs in when larger policy or direction call for consultation."

Plans for AIR include a 24-hour news channel and a separate radio station for seamless entertainment that will initially be pilot projects in Delhi and Mumbai. The I&B ministry will be approaching Telecom ministry's Wireless Planning Cell (WPC) for more spectrum.

AIR officials have drawn up a budget of Rs 3,800 crore for the news station and that could prove to be far too ambitious. AIR officials are also working on an FM entertainment station that will offer seamless night service in Delhi and Mumbai.

About 50% new programming is being commissioned for DD national and DD Urdu to beef up viewership. However, the process is anything but easy. The new hires, who are being offered "market rates", have already caused restlessness among the Indian Information Service officials who are running the show right now.

But the ministry means business. "DD services have been disrupted for the last four days and we have not received any complaints...that says a lot about the impact the public broadcaster has on the public consciousness. This has to change. It is run on public exchequer's money and must be accountable," a source said.

Source article :http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-10/india/36257446_1_dd-news-prasar-bharati-ceo-dd-and-air

After slip-up, govt asks Prasar Bharati to draw SOP - Indian Express

After slip-up, govt asks Prasar Bharati to draw SOP - Indian Express

The government has asked Prasar Bharati to draw up a standard operating procedure (SOP) that should be followed while responding to a call from the Prime Minister’s Office to record urgent public messages.

The direction has come after a Doordarshan crew arrived late for recording a message by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently, resulting in his statement being recorded by a private news agency and an unintended remark at the end of the speech getting broadcast unedited by TV channels.

The late arrival of the Doordarshan crew to record Singh’s message — that contained an appeal for peace by protesters demanding justice for the Delhi gangrape victim — on December 25 had an undesired fallout. The private news agency provided the recorded feed to TV channels without editing it, resulting in broadcast of the PM’s casual “theek hai” (is it alright) query at the end. Singh was inquiring if the recording was fine as the teleprompter was also missing since the DD team was to bring the equipment.

The query went viral online and protesters used this to ridicule the PM. The Doordarshan later suspended two cameramen and three technicians for failure to reach on time. An internal inquiry is on as those suspended said they were delayed by traffic restrictions.

Now, the I&B Ministry has asked the Prasar Bharati to come up with a SOP to avert such a slip-up. I&B Minister Manish Tewari said a “formal reference” has been made to the Prasar Bharati and it is looking at how to cut “response time”. Tewari said, the procedure should be in place as the need for the PM to address the nation can arise anytime.

Prasar Bharati sources said ideas like setting up a rudimentary recording facility at the PM’s residential complex and keeping an OB (outside broadcasting) van ready and personnel on standby at the Doordarshan’s headquarters could be explored. The SOP, sources said, would lay down the response time.

Article at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/after-slipup-govt-asks-prasar-bharati-to-draw-sop/1056989/0

Prasar Bharati makeover to hire established anchors

New Delhi, Jan 10 (PTI) In a bid to spruce up its content and presentation, national broadcaster Prasar Bharati has decided to hire media professionals, including recognised anchors, from open market.

Besides established anchors from private news channels, professionals in areas like new media, marketing and branding would also be recruited, official sources said.

The move forms a part of the national broadcaster's overall strategy to rebrand Doordarshan's News and Urdu channels.

Courtesy: PTI

AIBD / PRASAR BHARATHI Sub-Regional Workshop on Digital Radio Transmission

Courtesy:  Asia-Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Technology

This international level workshop was conducted from 3 - 11 Dec 2012 at the All India Radio-Staff Training Institute (Technical) complex in New Delhi. It was attended by 14 broadcast engineers and technical personnel from Bhutan, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria and Thailand.

The resource persons were senior broadcast engineers from AIR STIT, AIR Headquarters and regional stations, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Digital Radio Broadcast companies. The workshop covered theory, practical applications with demonstration and field trips to Digital Radio Transmitter sites and AIR Headquarters.

Participants together with the All India Radio top management and their staff at the entrance of STIT complex

The presentation on Digitalization of the Radio Network in India from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting gave an insight into the approach made by India and comparing it with other countries. India has a large number of AM, MW and SW transmitters in operation alongside with FM Stereo Transmitters. Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is a natural choice especially if simulcast is to be used for a period of time. It was obvious to the international participants that it would be costly and wastage of RF spectrum to let the existing analogue MW and SW transmitters be shut down. To put it simply, the Digital Switch Over technique was a logical step and it must be emphasised here that other countries with large number of AM transmitters are making a similar approach.

The theoretical aspects and practice of Digital Audio standards including the AES/EBU standards, COFDM, Digital Modulation and Channel Coding were presented by various experts from All India Radio. Due to special requests and popular demand, a special lecture on the Galois Field was conducted so that participants can understand advanced codes such as Low Density Parity Check Codes (LDPC), Reed Solomon (RS) and Bose Chaudhiri Hocquenghem (BCH) used in Digital Radio and TV Broadcasting. It was indeed a rare opportunity to learn from a broadcast practitioner as such lectures on this topic are not common and only dealt with by academics at postgraduate level at the Universities.

Digital Radio Transmitter Technology, Antenna and Feeder lines, DRM standards and DRM receivers were also among the topics which generated great interest. It was informative to know which category of analogue AM transmitters could be modified for DRM transmission. The different types of MW and SW antennas with their radiation patterns and antenna feeder lines provided better understanding of the overall digitalization process as not all the participants had previously worked at a radio transmitter site. The DRM field trials conducted by AIR and the problems that arose together with their solutions were presented by the experts directly involved. Evidently proper choice of DRM parameters is essential for clear and robust reception of digital radio signals. It was also reassuring to note that DRM receivers are readily available and the cost would be decreasing as more DRM transmitters start operation. There are already a substantial number of listeners overseas and clear reception is obtainable in countries as far away as the United Kingdom.

Mr I. I. George, Deputy Director General, delivering a presentation on Antennas & Feeder line

Other digital radio standards including DAB, DAB+, HD Radio and of course DRM+ were also introduced. The differences were explained and it is apt to say that the participants were able to distinguish between the technical features and specifications of each standard and their applications.

The participants were taken on a visit to the New Broadcasting House at New Delhi which was AIR Headquarters. Senior Engineers were at hand to explain the set up of radio studio and transmission facilities and equipment. One of the most remarkable features is the satellite links from New Delhi and to all major cities in India which are coordinated at this building. India is classified as a sub continent with an extremely huge land mass and a large population speaking many different languages. Satellite links are necessary to bring the Indian population from vast distances together and the broadcast personnel must have sufficient knowledge and expertise to operate the station. Needless to say, the equipment is sophisticated and it is continuously upgraded to take advantage of recent advances in digital satellite technology and the shift from Single Carrier Per Channel (SCPC) to Multi Carrier Per Channel (MCPC) operation.

A field trip was made to the AIR Transmitter site at Khampur where both MW and SW Transmitters are located. Again, experienced broadcast personnel were at hand to explain the operation of the DRM Transmitter, Antennas and feeder lines. Within the STIT complex itself, a DRM Tx is also located and further opportunity presented itself when digital measurements were carried out by the course coordinator, Mr K Murugan. Both the field trip to AIR Khampur and the DRM measurement exercise carried out at the STIT site provided the practicals that complemented the theoretical aspects explained during the lectures.

Mr V.K.Balaeja, Director Engineering, AIR, Khampur complex explaining the practical operation of the DRM Transmitter

The workshop was well organised and took into account both the theoretical and practical aspects of Digital Radio Transmission. The resource persons were trained experts in their own field and went out of their way to make the course a success. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, India is extended a sincere appreciation of thanks as its officials had also contributed by providing the necessary support and approval while AIBD is commended for the coordination between the various countries and AIR to launch this joint activity. A special note of thanks to Prahabindra Das, Director, International relations at AIR for his efforts in getting local approvals to host this activity. Last but not the least  the efforts of K Murugan, who served as both the course coordinator and resource person is given due credit for taking great care for ensuring the smooth implementation of the workshop proceedings which contributed to its success.

Mr N A Khan, Additional Director General, AIR-Staff Training Institute Technical with K Murugan Director AIR & Course Coordinator presenting the certificates to the participants after the closing ceremony

_________________________________

By V. Jeewa, M.Eng, C.Eng, Deputy Director & Zarah Naumul B.Eng
Tun Abdul Razak Broadcast & Information Institute,
Ministry of Information, Communication & Culture, Malaysia

Source article at: http://www.aibd.org.my/node/3358