Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Digital Radio Technology empowers listeners with wide range of services:Shri Venkaiah Naidu

Digital Radio platform to promote Digital and Connectivity revolution in the Country 
Minister Inaugurates Digital Radio Round Table Conference

Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, Minister for Information & Broadcasting has said that Digital Radio provided a unique opportunity for all the stakeholders both public and private broadcasters to carry forward the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister to achieve Digital and Connectivity Revolution in the Country. Digital Radio technology would provide listeners with significantly improved audio quality and service reliability at an affordable price. The Minister mentioned this during his address at the Digital Radio for All Round Table Conference organised by Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) along with Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) here today.

            
Elaborating further, Shri Naidu said that it was an opportune moment for automotive manufacturers and retailers to incorporate Digital Radio systems in vehicles that provided consumers with significantly improved audio quality and service reliability at an affordable price. This would enable the scaling up and adoption of this new Digital Technology. The Digital Radio provides benefits to
all the stakeholders, including Listeners, Manufacturers, Broadcasters and Regulators.
Regarding achievements of All India Radio in adopting Digital Radio Technology, Shri Naidu mentioned that All India Radio has already completed the technical installation and upgradation of 37 powerful transmitters in the first phase of Digitization of Radio Broadcast, a project unparalleled in the world today. This would ensure reduced electric power consumption for all digital transmissions, saving All India Radio and taxpayers significant transmission cost in the future. He added that All India Radio has re-invented itself through its Digital Transmitters based on the International ITU standard Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM).

Emphasizing on the need for the Traffic advisory services on National Highways, Shri Naidu said that the next phase of this service through AIR FM Transmitters needs to be digitised based on the ITU standards to exploit its full potential. The service would offer multiple radio program, detailed and multi-lingual on-demand traffic and travel information and emergency warning services.

From the Listeners perspective the Digital Transmission would provide Crystal clear and better-than-FM sound quality, enhanced program choice, free access to textual news, sports, travel and weather
information from the Internet in many languages simultaneously and would enable the transmission of emergency warning for immediately alerting the population in case of pending disasters.

From a commercial perspective, the system provides audiences with receivers at an affordable price as well as an attractive package of benefits which include wider range of services, easier tuning and selection of programming, improved stereo and surround sound in cars amongst others.
From a technical perspective, a key and a revolutionary feature of DRM is the ability to select from a range of Transmission Modes. This allows the Broadcaster to balance or exchange bit-rate capacity, signal robustness, transmission power and coverage. The DRM broadcasting system is specifically designed to allow the new digital transmission to co-exist with the current analogue broadcasts.

Key Benefits of DRM

Listeners
· Excellent quality sound in stereo
· Data such as text and pictures
· Easy tuning on station name

Manufacturers
· Replace receivers with new digital receivers
· Increase the market potential
· Increase possibilities for new areas of interest and content

Broadcasters
· Multilingual Program
· Reduced power consumption of upto 40-50%
· Increased opportunity for revenue generation streams

Regulators
· Uses less spectrum
· An International standard
· Green Broadcasting- Low power cost
· Emergency warning alert

CP/GV
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
31-January-2017 12:43 IST

Monday, January 30, 2017

Radio Pakistan starts work on converting transmission to DRM+ technology

Radio Pakistan has started work on converting its transmission to state-of- the art DRM Plus technology to make its broadcasts clearer and cost-effective.

Director General, Radio Pakistan Khurshid Malik visited the project at Broadcasting House in Islamabad today where he was briefed about progress on introducing DRM Plus technology.
He was informed that this technology enhances quality of broadcasts to perfection.

The present AM and FM transmitters of Radio Pakistan can be made compatible to this technology with little amendment.

Under this technology, three channels can be aired from a single transmitter, which will prove cost-effective. This technology enables listeners to get access to text services as well. Khurshid Malik emphasized the need of improving contents of programmes besides introducing modern technology to cater the need of all segments of society.

(Press Release)

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Next Phase of the DRM Project in India - Round table meeting with stakeholders

The DRM Consortium, in collaboration with BECIL, is organising and hosting a high level round table meeting in New Delhi on January 31st. Its aim is to update and stimulate the interest of key Indian stakeholders in the public phase launch of the project to digitize radio in India, following the successful installation of DRM digital radio transmitters by All India Radio (AIR).

The aim of the event, "DRM: Digital Radio for All – Achieving PM's Dream of Digital India", is to help the launch of the next phase of the DRM project by incorporating the views of all stakeholders for the successful deployment of all features of DRM digital radio. This will ensure that high quality sound, additional services, exciting content and the DRM's extra features are available to enhance and enrich the lives of Indian and overseas listeners.

Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, has kindly consented to inaugurate the event. All stakeholder groups involved in the successful launch of digital terrestrial radio in India are invited to attend the event, including several senior officers from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Prasar Bharati (both All India Radio and Doordarshan), private FM broadcasters, Radio receiver manufacturers, automobile manufacturers, mobile phone manufacturers, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), UNDP, BECIL and DRM experts.

The meeting will be held on 31st January at the Shangri-La's - Eros Hotel, New Delhi. For further information contact: projectoffice@drm.org.

Following the round table event, representatives of the DRM Consortium will also participate in the annual BES Expo 2017 (Broadcast Engineering Society) at The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, New Delhi February 2nd - 4th. The DRM Consortium is proud to officially endorse this year's BES Expo. During the BES Conference, members of the Consortium will present their views on the development of digital radio and DRM in the world and address issues to do with the practical and optimum implementation of the DRM standard. DRM will be part of the Nautel stand 27/28 where experts will be available to inform and answer questions on DRM, while visitors to the BES Expo can learn about DRM solutions from a range of DRM member representatives (Ampegon, Fraunhofer IIs, Gospell, NXP, Rfmondial, Communication Systems INC, Transradio).

In the view of the DRM Consortium's Chairman, Ruxandra Obreja: "The DRM project in India is entering a new phase after the installation of 37 transmitters of which 35 are in medium wave and broadcasting in simulcast or even in pure digital mode. Medium wave is covering over 99% of the population and half are already in the incidence of a digital signal. FM only covers 47% of the Indians. The roll-out of DRM all over India is probably the biggest digital radio project in the world.

We will support All India Radio and closely work with the Indian industry and all stakeholders in joining the next phase of this project. Now is the time to optimize and enrich the DRM services while the industry steps up its involvement and the listeners get to know and enjoy the fruit of their investment – making Digital India reality."

About DRM

Digital Radio Mondiale™ (DRM) is the universal, openly standardised digital broadcasting system for all broadcasting frequencies, able to cover fully any country whatever its size at much reduced energy costs.

The DRM standard comprises two major configurations one intended for broadcasts on short, medium and long wave up to 30 MHz providing medium to large coverage areas and low power consumption (called 'DRM30'). The configuration for the VHF bands above 30 MHz is called 'DRM+', tailored for local and regional coverage with broadcaster-controlled transmissions.

All DRM configurations share the same audio coding, data and multimedia services, service linking, multiplexing and signalling schemes.  DRM provides high quality sound combined with a wealth of enhanced features: Surround Sound, Journaline text information, Slideshow, EPG, and data services.

The DRM Consortium was awarded by ITU for it outstanding contribution to the Telecommunications over the past years and has signed the EBU Smart Radio Memorandum that promotes access to free to air radio on all devices.

DRM can help deliver the mandate of any government: to reach all its citizens with information, education, emergency warnings and entertainment.

For more information and DRM updates please visit www.drm.org or subscribe to DRM news by writing to pressoffice@drm.org.  Click here for the Newsletter with all the latest DRM news from around the world.
                                                       
DRM Consortium
Site for DRM: www.drm.org

(Press Release)

VOA celebrates 75 years next week

Voice of America celebrates 75 years on air next week, share your memories/photos of VOA at #VOA75 voa75@voanews.com



Thursday, January 26, 2017

Radio Taiwan International frequency change

Starting from January 31,2017 Radio Taiwan's International's english transmission to South Asia from 1600 to 1700 UTC on 6185 kHz will be switched to 9405 kHz.

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Bangladesh Betar adds Chinese language to its overseas broadcasting

Alongside Hindi, Urdu, Arabic and Nepali, Chinese language will be added as the 7th language in Bangladesh Betar's external program broadcast. A proposal in this regard is in progress, according to the department of External service of Bangladesh Betar unit director Kamal Ahmed.

Full story at :

Radio Veritas Asia Urdu update

Due to some technical difficulties Radio Veritas Asia in Urdu at 1430-1457 UTC could not able to use 11840 kHz replacing 15330 kHz on 8th January last via Vatican Radio SMG. Now effective 18th January (Wednesday) Radio Veritas Asia is going to use 11630 kHz replacing 15330 kHz via SMG.

(Alok Dasgupta)

Thursday, January 19, 2017

All India Radio , Tripura to celebrate Golden Jubilee

All India Radio, Tripura will be celebrating its 50th anniversary from 26th Jab till 1st Feb 2017.

Further info at :







BES EXPO 2017




Sri Lanka state broadcaster, military to get some VOA transmitting assets

Jan 19, 2017 09:43 AM 

ECONOMYNEXT - Sri Lanka's state-run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), and the military will get some equipment from a closed Voice of America relay station, which is being dismantled.

The Voice of America made its last broadcast from the relay station in Iranawila, Chilaw on June 10, 2016, amid budget cuts and declining viewership for shortwave radio listening.

The VOA station had two 500 kiloWatt Marconi transmitters and six 250 kW transmitters when it began operations over 16 years ago, according to publicly available data.

Full story at :


Related :

US to close Voice of America station in Sri Lanka and hand over land to government


Sri Lanka VOA shortwave station has 4.2MW of thermal power: US embassy




Monday, January 16, 2017

New HF SDR prototype from the makers of #AirSpy

Twitter user @lambdfew who's author of Airspy and SDR# has posted a few screenshots of new HF SDR prototype which has a -107dB noise floor and 18 bits of dynamic range.



Rajeev Singh to take charge as interim CEO of Prasar Bharati

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi January 15, 2017

Rajeev Singh, Member (Finance) in Prasar Bharati Board, will take charge as interim CEO of the public broadcaster after S C Panda retires in February.

Full story at :



Monday, January 09, 2017

Radio Veritas Asia Frequency change

Effective 8th January 2017 Radio Veritas Asia is changing their frequencies :

Bengali at 1400-1427 UTC on 11840 kHz (replacing 11825 kHz)
Urdu at 1430-1457 UTC on 11840 kHz (replacing 15330 kHz)

(Alok Dasgupta)

Saturday, January 07, 2017

All India Radio to set up new transmitters in Uttarakhand

Many existing transmitters in the state are in for upgradation and many new transmitters are in the pipeline

Public broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) has drawn up a detailed plan to ensure that its signals cover the mountainous terrain of Uttarakhand which include setting up of a 1 Kw FM transmitter at Champavat, a 100 watt FM Relay Centre at Haridwar and a 10 Kw FM transmitter each at Pithoragarh and Haldwani.

Keeping in view the mountainous terrain of Uttarakhand, All India Radio has elaborate plans to ensure its signals reach every nook and corner of the state, a statement released by the broadcaster said.

Norway to switch off FM radio in risky, unpopular shift to digital

Norway is set to become the first nation to start switching off its FM radio network next week, in a risky and unpopular leap to digital technology that will be closely watched by other countries considering whether to follow suit.

Critics say the government is rushing the move and many people may miss warnings on emergencies that have until now been broadcast via the radio. Of particular concern are the 2 million cars on Norway's roads that are not equipped with Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) receivers, they say.


Friday, January 06, 2017

NXP launches globally compatible Digital Radio Chip for automotive

At CES, Globally-Compatible Digital Radio Chip Launched for Automotive

Chip manufacturer NXP have released what they call the world's first one-chip solution for global digital radio reception, designed for automotive.

The fingertip-sized chip, the SAF4000, is capable of reception of all global broadcast standards, including analog FM and AM as well as DAB+, Digital Radio Mondiale, and HD Radio.

More at :


Related :

NXP Presents the World's First One-Chip Solution for All Global In-Car Infotainment and Broadcast Standards


Thursday, January 05, 2017

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation turns 50 today

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation marks the 50th anniversary today. The corporation has organized a number of programmes to mark this event during the New Year. The inaugural ceremony in this connection will be held today at the Kumarathunga studio under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe. The newly constructed administrative building and modified studio complex will be declared open by the president.

A commemorative stamp and a first day cover will be issued to mark the golden jubilee anniversary of the SLBC. An investigative magazine regarding the history of Sri Lanka's broadcasting will also be launched. An awarding ceremony will also be held to felicitate the staff members of SLBC.

More at :

Related :

VOA 2017 Calendar

You can find @VOANews' 2017 #calendar here ! The theme - celebrating diaspora communities in the U.S. 

#VOA75

Wednesday, January 04, 2017

Farewell BBG

FAREWELL, FIREWALL

With the elimination of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the pendulum swings again.

By Kim Andrew Elliott



Iconic shortwave poles to soon disappear from Jersey Shore marsh

The iconic poles emerging from an Ocean County tidal marsh that once sent messages to deep sea ships and broadcast a government radio station will soon disappear.

A plan funded by the federal Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 calls for the removal of 340 wooden poles from Good Luck Point at the foot of the Toms River in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township

The poles are a component of inactive shortwave antenna fields associated with AT&T's ship-to-shore shortwave communications system, which was in operation at the site from the early 1930s until 1999, according to the release.

The area also includes a shortwave transmitter building. Under the call sign "WOO," the station helped broadcast Voice of America around the globe after 1944.

Full story at :




The elimination of loud radio and the end of broadcasting

M. Balakrishnan Menon of All India Radio FM station at Manjeri in Kerala talks about how radio is evolving....

In social sector communication studies, Radio and Public Service Broadcasting has always been worthy of public auditing and reassessments in terms of relevance and social benefit, considering the huge public funding involved.

Today, radio is at a cross roads as we face a similar challenge about the sustainability of commercial radio with a profusion of filmy talk on the airwaves.

While the less dependable electromagnetic AM/FM transmissions are being turned off in favour of digital solutions, we need to make some fundamental decisions about what radio is and how do we want to continue using it.


CRI Director General quotes Indian fan in New Year message

The Director General of China Radio International (CRI), Wang Gengnian, has sent a New Year message on radio and internet.

Wang also quoted an Indian fan's comments on social media, saying: "Not long ago, CRI celebrated its 75th birthday, and we received a great deal of congratulations from our listeners and netizens across the world. One netizen in particular, called S. M. Ravichandran from India, posted on social media: "From shortwave broadcasting to the internet, and then to social media and mobile apps, China Radio International has accompanied me through the whole journey. I wish you all the best, and Happy Birthday!"

Source/Full story at :


Kolkata airport to get FM station

"Kolkata airport will have a dedicated FM radio where contemporary and retro music will be played. There will also be interactive chat shows through phone-ins. Coupled with the retail experience that is set to get enhanced, the atmosphere in the terminal will become more exciting. We want it to be a happening place," airport director Atul Dixit told TOI.

Source and full story at :

Sunday, January 01, 2017

Bangladesh Betar to extend FM coverage

Bangladesh Betar is moving ahead with plans to widen its frequency modulation (FM) broadcasting coverage by setting up region-based FM radio bands. 

So far, a total of 32 separate FM radio bands have been set up by Bangladesh Betar. They run their shows for several hours each day. Besides the state-run bands, there are 17 private FM stations currently in operation, while the government has recently licensed 28 private organisations for FM broadcasting, which are yet to launch their operations.

Of the state-run FM bands, Dhaka station alone has eight, while Rajshahi station has four bands. Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna and Rangpur have three bands each.
The Comilla station has two bands while Thakurgaon, Barisal, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarbon and Jessore have one each.

Full story at :