Ram, I do agree that there will be more going towards the audiences with
"cheaper" FMs and their availability in smaller towns. But sound aesthetics may
not be a major issue with ordinary masses. Presentation will be.
If community radios stick to their mandate and claim, then these mini FMs
should not pose any threat or competition to CRS. While the commercial FMs will
try to incorporate local and people's lingo, they will not "encroach" upon CRS'
content and commitment (if we go by that). Commercial FMs will still go in for
music, film music, and profit; probably, more locals will come in for
presentation.
That will not trouble CRS. Our strengths are relevant & informative content,
local-ness, much more variety related to local life, free movement of community
people to the CRS, etc. Sustainability is a major issue for us, though.
I only hope there won't be any confusion regarding frequency allocation - CRS
relegated to back seat, in an eagerness to make more money.
---
Rev Dr Richard Rego SJ
Director, Community Radio SARANG 107.8FM
Assoc. Prof., MCMS
Dept of Mass Communication
St Aloysius College; P.B. 720
Mangalore - 575003.
www.richardrego.wordpress.com
www.staloysiuscollege.wordpress.com
www.sarang.org.in
+919448546425 (pers.)
0824-2449706. (Res)
--- On Sun, 15/7/12, Ram Bhat <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Ram Bhat <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [cr-india] "Now, pay Rs 5 lakh and have your own FM station"
To: "sajan venniyoor" <[email protected]>
Cc: "CR India" <[email protected]>
Date: Sunday, 15 July, 2012, 10:52
Frequencies in areas like J &K should be available for even less, and yet there
are no takers. The FM sector works on revenue share, as opposed to only
auction. So it would be interesting to see how the sector pans out when the
next phase of bidding opens up. Although the Minister has clarified that this
is not community radio, I think as private radio moves to smaller towns, both
the private and the community radio will be forced to engage with the local
audience, and programming will more or less 'sound' similar. This is where CR
should really distinguish itself in terms of a different vocabulary - a
different aesthetics of sound. I'm afraid, right now most community radio
stations ape either AIR or Private radio as far as aesthetics are concerned.
If the reduced channel spacing proposal has been already forwarded to the
cabinet, then can we get hold of a copy? I'd like to see if it is similar to
what TRAI came up with, and also if our inputs have been taken into cognizance.
Best,
Ram
On 15-Jul-2012, at 9:49, sajan venniyoor <[email protected]> wrote:
[Thanks to Kiran M for the link]
Now, pay Rs 5 lakh and have your own FM station
Rohan Dua, TNN | 15 Jul 2012
CHANDIGARH: In a move to bring FM radio to rural India, the government will
consider allowing small towns with population of about 1 lakh to have FM
stations with a limited footprint. The cost of frequency for these non-news
channels will be just Rs 50 lakh.
The ministry of information and broadcasting plans to auction 839 channels in
249 cities in phase III of the bidding, Union I&B minister Ambika Soni said.
The cities have been divided into four groups — A,B,C and D — according to
their population. Cities under category D are the ones with maximum population
of one lakh like Ambala in Haryana, Bharuch in Gujarat, Bharatpur in Rajasthan
and Bokaro in Jharkhand.
To bid for a station in such cities, a sum of just Rs 50 lakh is required as
mininum net worth, in addition to the bidding price which starts from a minimum
reserve price of Rs 5 lakh.
"The objective is to bring the creative best in young boys and girls of small
towns. Let them have their voice and tell rest of the people. Let them hold
their microphones and become radio jockeys of small towns. This is different
from community radio," said Soni.
To create more channels for individuals hoping to have their own FM station,
Soni said she has also forwarded a proposal to the Cabinet to reduce the
minimum channel spacing for FM.
"The additional spectrum means we could auction more channels, bids for which
could be made as low as the reserve price of Rs 5 lakh," she said. However, for
this, an individual must own a company which is registered under the Company's
Act, 1956.
Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Now-pay-Rs-5-lakh-and-have-your-own-FM-station/articleshow/14923191.cms
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