The Central Government on Tuesday allowed the private FM channels would be able to to broadcast All India Radio news in English and Hindi.
A report published on Tuesday by Scroll.in stated the announcement by the Centre came days after public broadcaster Prasar Bharati in order to cut costs and “rationalise” services decided to shut down All India Radio’s national channel in five cities.
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It may be mentioned that there are a number of private FM channels in Assam and Northeast.
The report quoted Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore as saying on Tuesday the service would permit the private channels to broadcast the service in an unaltered format, including advertisements, for free till May 31.
The initiative is on a trial basis, Rathore said.
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Informing about the launch of AIR bulletins with private FM channels, Union Minister Rathore stated on his Twitter handle on Tuesday: “Delighted to launch the sharing of AIR news bulletins with Private FM Channels.”
Stating that the broadcast of AIR news bulletins by private FM channels is a wonderful public-private collaboration, the Union Minister further tweeted: “Awareness is empowerment and the broadcast of AIR news bulletins by Private FM Channels is a wonderful public-private collaboration aimed at informing, educating & empowering people.”
Delighted to launch the sharing of @airnewsalerts bulletins with Private FM Channels.
Awareness is empowerment and the broadcast of @airnewsalerts news bulletins by Private FM Channels is a wonderful public-private collaboration aimed at informing, educating & empowering people. pic.twitter.com/LT92NwPUfM
— RajyavardhanRathore (@Ra_THORe) January 8, 2019
The Union Minister also stated that the private channels may avoid broadcasting in “disturbed, border and Naxal-affected areas”.
The report quoted Rathore as saying: “Our priority is awareness among citizens and secondary is revenue generation,” adding, “We have made it available free of cost so that there are no further delays.”
Meanwhile, Prasar Bharati Chairman A Surya Prakash described the provision as a significant one “in this era of collaboration and convergence”.
The president of the Association of Radio Operators of India, Anuradha Prasad expressed his thanks to the Centre for agreeing to its request to permit private radio channels to air news.