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.
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