Govt. goes digital for cross-border outreach.

Officials of AIR have defended the use of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) for the cross-border broadcasting initiative to be kick-started with President Pranab Mukherjee’s inauguration of a transmitter at Chinsurah later this year. Director General of AIR, F. Sheheryar said: “DRM has the twin capabilities of anologue and digital transmission, which makes it perfect for simulcast modes.”

“Personally, I think DRM is not a good option as its receivers cost around Rs. 15,000 and people may not buy such expensive receivers. People do listen to FM radio (available on cell phones) and car music systems) so it would have been nice to install more FM transmitters if the objective is to reach listeners. The only advantage of DRM is that it has a longer range than FM but if people are not going to listen, what is the point?” asks Girish Kumar, Professor at the Electrical Engineering Department of IIT Mumbai and who’s views were sought by Prasar Bharati Corporation.AIR had installed a 20KW FM transmitter in Fazilka, Punjab, to reach those who tune into the Urdu Service of AIR. A television tower — with a 230 metre tower for FM transmission — is reaching Pakistani listeners, where Doordarshan is banned.

AIR is using both FM transmitters and DRMs to reach out to India’s neighbours. A senior official said Radio Bangla was discontinued in 2010. With DRM, Radio Bangla will be active again. “This radio transmission had played an important role in the liberation of Bangladesh and we are hoping to have specific programmes to interest listeners, including discussions on rising fundamentalism in Bangladesh, which poses a danger to India,” officials said. Two years ago, the Sam Pitroda Committee set up to suggest a road map for the Prasar Bharati, had struck a cautious note in its report: “Digitalise the present AM radio system to a new digital radio transmission after due evaluation subject to cost and availability of DRM receivers. In the transition period, FM may be expanded as per demand”. AIR, according to officials, has set 2017 as deadline to achieve total digitisation...............