Monday, November 28, 2005

2005 Top Ten Taiwan News Stories contest by RTI

Prizes

Special prize: an i-pod worth NT$6,000(3 winners)
First prize:Ÿ a digital camera worth NT$4,500 (4 winners)
Second prize:Ÿa digital radio worth NT$3,000 (5 winners)
Third prize:Ÿ a pen holder worth NT$500 (40 winners)
Commemorative prize: an RTI T-shirt worth NT$300Ÿ (200 winners)

How to participate
1. Online>>>2. Mail to P.O. Box, 24-38, Taipei, Taiwan (regular mail only)3. Email to: topten@rti.org.tw4. Fax to 886-2-2886-2294 or 886-2-2885-00055. The competition ends on December 28th (Online entry ends at noon December 30th). For speedy processing, please email or fax your entries.

Results

◎ The results will be available on December 30th, 2005. ◎ The draw for the prizes will be held on January 23, 2006.

2005 Top Ten Taiwan News Stories


The direct, two-way chartered flights for the Chinese Lunar New Year began on January 29th, a historic moment in Taiwan-China links.

The United Microelectronics Corporation is under investigation for allegedly transferring its technology, investment and manpower to China.

On March 26th, President Chen Shui-bian and Premier Frank Hsieh joined a mass rally to protest against China's "anti-secession law."

President Chen went to the Vatican to attend the funeral of late Pope John Paul II, the first such trip made by a Taiwan leader in 63 years.

The National Assembly is abolished; "single constituency, two-vote" system adopted; legislative seats halved, referendum included in constitution.

The High Court rejected the opposition's appeal to nullify last year's presidential elections results.

Taiwan's fishery disputes with Japan continue as the 15th fishery talks held in July between the two sides failed to reach any consensus.

Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeou was elected chairman of the KMT in August. Ma is the first directly elected chairman.

Protests held by rioting Thai workers in August triggered investigations into wrongdoing and profiteering involving high-ranking government officials.

Opposition leaders visited China in April and May. Independent lawmaker Lee Ao visited China in September.

Japan grants Taiwanese tourists visa-free entry since (September 26th).

The Grand Justices ruled in September that the government's plan to implement a compulsory fingerprinting ID plan is illegal.

The legal exchange of Taiwan dollars for Chinese RMB began on October 3rd in Kinmen and Matsu, with a maximum of 20,000 RMB.

A Tokyo court ruled that the Japanese government should compensate Taiwan's leprosy victims; but Japan later said it would appeal the case.

Wang Jian-ming, a Taiwanese pitcher with the New York Yankees, is called the "Glory of Taiwan."

Smuggled birds from China were found to be infected with the H5N1 virus. Taiwan called on Roche to allow this country to produce Tamiflu.

The legislature passed the bill creating the National Communications Commission in October. The legislature controls membership of the media watchdog.

Taiwan severed diplomatic ties with Grenada and Senegal in Jan and Oct respectively. Taiwan forged ties with Nauru in May. Taiwan now has 25 allies.

Friday, November 25, 2005

International Tamil Radio List

Sarvadesavanoli November 2005


In this November Issue..
DRM and DAB SPECIAL
* Digital Radio Mondial – An Introduction
www.drm.org
* DRM FAQ
* Digital Audio Broadcasting – An Introduction
* Radio Veritas Thamizh Pani 2005 Winners list
* Time Table of International Tamil Radios
[with Freq., Meter and Broadcasting dates]
* Survey Letter by Pollachi DX Club
· Mobile: 98650 16402
* Radio Guide
- Pulam Peyarntha Thamizharkalum
Yazh Suthakar Pathilkalum
yazhsuthakar@yahoo.co.in
* Digital Page:
Kchibo DRM11
www.kchibo.com/drm
* Short Wave -An Introduction
Morse Key and the using table
* Radio in Newspaper
* Radio Competition details
* Radio Taipei International
· natalie@rti.org.tw
* Radio Prague
· english@radio.cz
- Radio Veritas Asia
tamil@rveritas-asia.org
* DX Club News
* Dxing Q&A
DRM details
Worldspace details
* On the Short Waves
· * This is 4 U..
* Free: DRM Sticker

Sarvadesavanoli October 2005

In this October Issue..
K.S RAJAH SPECIAL - 2
* K.S. Rajah a legend
Valliyur A.P.S.Ravindran [9443358400]
Pathamadai Kanndasamy [0462-2330096]
* K.S.Rajah Fan thoughts- Yazh Suthakar [044-55855702]
http://www.ksrajah.blogdrive.com/
* K.S.Rajah Interview
* Radio Guide- National Radio Club AM Log Book
* Digital Page:Philips RL 146 Panasonic RB-11
* Short Wave -An Introduction How to use Morse Key
* Radio in Newspaper
* Radio Competition details
- Voice of GermanyInside Europe Quiz europe@dw-world.de
Current affairs quiz newslink@d-world.de
- Radio Veritas Asia tamil@rveritas-asia.org
Monthly QuizAnnual Quiz
- China Radio International
Tamil Service Quiz Answers tamil@cri.com.cn
English Service Quiz crienf@cri.co.cn
* DX Club News
* Dxing Q&ADRM detailsWorldspace details
* On the Short Waves* This is 4 U..* Free: IBC Tamil Sticker

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

IBC Tamil Service freq. change


SRI LANKA [non]. GERMANY: Additional DTK T-Systems changes:IBC Tamil Service in Tamil from Nov. 18:0000-0100 NF 7110 (not 7105) WER 250 kW / 090 deg to SoAs, ex 6055 to avoid REE (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 22 via DXLD)

Passport to World Band Radio 2006


The 2006 of Passport to World Band Radio was published in October 2005. Described on the cover as "World's #1 Selling Shortwave Guide", there is no doubt about the focus of this annual publication. Its core content and format have not changed much since it was first published 22 years ago, and it does an excellent job of introducing new listeners to what's on the dial between 2 and 30 MHz. Its coverage of that part of the broadcast spectrum is excellent, and we were pleased to see that digital shortwave (DRM) is prominently featured in the receiver review section.
This year's special feature covers China and Tibet. Interestingly, in addition to profiling China Radio International, author Manosij Guha has included considerable detail about China's jamming of some shortwave broadcasts. This may help ensure that pressure will be maintained on the Chinese authorites in the run-up to the 2008 Olympics. Plaudits to Passport for taking the opportunity to raise awareness of an issue which is too infrequently mentioned in the mainstream press.
For newcomers to shortwave listening, Passport contains a 34-page section called "Compleat [sic] Idiot's Guide to Getting Started". Despite its facetious name, there is a good deal of useful information, including a selection of English programmes from international broadcasters called 'Ten of the Best', which again this year includes two from Radio Netherlands - the Research File and Wide Angle (now part of Saturday Connection).
Passport's focus on programming as well as frequencies and receivers is very much appreciated by the producers at the international broadcasters. A comprehensive section called 'Hour by Hour - What's on Tonight?' fills 60 pages, and there's also a section for expatriates called 'Voices from Home' which tells them how to tune into the broadcaster from their homeland in their native language. Finally, there's a comprehensive listing of Worldwide Broadcasts in English.
But for many regular readers, the twin attractions of Passport are the graphical listings of all shortwave broadcasts by frequency, and the comprehensive equipment reviews. The frequency listings have always been controversial amongst shortwave hobbyists. Passport's editorial deadline comes well before many of the broadcasters have finalised their winter schedules, and frequency planning for next summer has barely started. So some of the information in the so-called Blue Pages is, by the editors' own admission, "creatively opined". But the editors do point out, quite correctly, that they have decades of experience, and every year some of the "creatively opined" information turns out to be remarkably accurate. Of course, they cannot predict changes resulting from political decisions, budget cuts and the like.
In conjunction with the Blue Pages, the Addresses Plus section gives full contact information for all the stations in the listings. For the international broadcasters, websites and e-mail addresses are also given. 'How to Choose a World Band Radio' is the equipment section with over 140 pages containing reviews of receivers and antennas. The writing style of Passport's Editor-in-Chief, Larry Magne, ensures that it never becomes dull. Larry is very authoritative, but also has a sense of humour, and is not afraid to tell it like it is. The review of the cheap Coby CX-CB91 is typical, concluding: "With tuning so hopeless and earpiece audio that can be unexpectedly painful, this Chinese model is unfit for human consumption."
On the other hand, those receivers worthy of serious consideration get several pages to themselves, with clear and easy-to-understand explanations of their strengths and weaknesses. The only disconcerting thing is that the ratings are now indicated as 1-5 stars, sometime followed by a figure such as 5/8. A different system (for example points out of 100) might be a better way of indicating minor differences in overall ratings.
Edited in the USA and printed in Canada, Passport to World Band Radio 2006 is very North America-focused, but is valuable to anyone around the world who wants a good reference to shortwave broadcasting in English and other major languages. Its binding enables the book to be opened flat while bandscanning, enhancing the usefulness of the Blue Pages. All in all, the 2006 edition is well up to the standard of previous editions, and we highly recommend it.
This review was compiled by the staff of 'Media Network', the English language Webzine of Radio Netherlands. The review was done independently of the author and publisher. Radio Netherlands has no financial connection with either and provides the information above in good faith.

Larry Magne, et al.
No of pages: 592
Publisher: IBS North America,
P.O. Box 300,
Penns Park, PA 18943,
USA. Tel: +1 (215) 598 9018.
Fax: +1 (215) 598 3794.
E-mail: mktg@passband.com
Web: http://www.passband.com/ (online ordering available)
Price: US$22.95 including fast priority mail shipping free in the US
US$25.95 to Canada & Mexico by global priority airmail
US$27.95 to the UK by global priority airmail
Other countries: see Web site for details.
Also available at up to 30% discount from some online bookstores!

Thanks to http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/features/media/passport.html?view=Standard

Indiantelevision.com's interview with Prasar Bharati chief executive officer KS Sarma


As a career bureaucrat, KS Sarma is neither a stranger to the Indian political system nor the opportunities that it throws up if one wants to do something worthwhile. Stints in various ministries in Delhi, apart from the state government of Andhra Pradesh, have given Sarma ample scope to display his talents. His critics at times have termed it histrionics. But such things have never deterred this suave South Indian who finds himself at ease even in the hurly-burly snooty world of the Capital and north India.
If his stay in the human resources development ministry, when he was in charge of pre-college level education at regional level, is termed as "enriching" by him, his stint at Prasar Bharati as the CEO of the world's largest public service broadcaster has been "challenging."
In this interview with Indiantelevision.com's Anjan Mitra, Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma holds forth on a wide range of subjects, at times quite frankly, and at times in his inimitable diplomatic style, on a day when he's working late in the office, which must have stretched further as an official meeting with the information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi had been scheduled.
Excerpts:

How would you assess Prasar Bharati’s performance as 2005 nears an end?It is turning out to be decent year and hopefully the financial year (ending 31 March, 2005) would also help us meet raised revenue targets.
Both Doordarshan and All India Radio are trying to make themselves more seen and heard amongst people and that, I feel, is a good sign of some aggressiveness. We also have TAM data that indicates DD’s viewership in cable and satellite homes has grown by 18 per cent in one year’s time. What’s satisfying is that such growth has not come for any other single channel in the same period.
However, the progress also signals that we’d have to work harder to keep the momentum going, which is the tougher part of the game. Especially when an organization like Prasar Bharati is put under a scanner for even the smallest of things. We are criticized continuously for not living up to the image of a public broadcaster, while on the other hand, the organization is also expected to be self-sufficient. But that, I presume, is part of Prasar Bharati’s life, which has always had so much of potential and still continues to do so.

What are the challenges before Prasar Bharati at this juncture when satellite TV has become a predominant supplier of entertainment and Indian politicians increasingly want more control over DD and AIR?We are seized with the issue of improving our content, especially on DD channels. This, please remember, we have to do while keeping in mind Prasar Bharati’s role as a public broadcaster that also has to provide wholesome entertainment to the masses of India. The task is not as easy as many will think it to be. For example, DD has strict programming codes, which forbids it from airing many types of shows that are a staple for satellite entertainment channels.Another challenge is to do efficient marketing of our programmes that used to be outsourced to third parties. From this year we have decided to do our own marketing whether it’s cricket, serials or movies.
We are also trying to fine tune the self-financing scheme relating to serials, which was introduced earlier this year. This scheme helps us not only to sell airtime more effectively, but gives DD the ownership of programmes produced by outsiders. In the past, the rights of some of DD’s best programming, especially serials and popular shows, used to remain with producers as they bought time on DD channels. We have done away with the sponsored slots now.
However, the biggest challenge, which can also be called an achievement, is to change the mindset of people working in Prasar Bharati. The outlook has become more commercial, while keeping the public service broadcaster’s image in mind. I agree, we cannot change set notions and perceptions at one go, but a more concerted effort is being made to revitalize the manpower, which will bear fruit in times to come.

What is this self-financing scheme all about?The self financing scheme (SFS) puts a stop to sponsored programmes where outside producers used to buy time slots on DD after paying an amount and in return got a fixed amount of commercial time, depending on the amount of time bought. This free commercial time used to be hawked in the market by the producers who also retained the rights over the programmes. Most of the time intense competition compelled these producers to undercut prices (advertising rates) to fill up inventory, which spoiled the market for DD programmes.
Under SFS, in short, Doordarshan appraises programmes and pays outside producers a certain amount factoring in a profit margin for them. Not only do the rights lie with DD now, but the on-air life of such programming is linked to ratings. If a certain programme is not delivering the desired ratings, we take it off air after giving it due notice.


Wasn’t farming out marketing of programmes to third parties an indication of Prasar Bharati’s lack of confidence in itself for which it has been continuously taken for a ride?I wouldn’t agree with the first part of your observation because DD did not have the requisite wherewithal for undertaking complex marketing activities. Or, so the thinking went in DD. We are still ironing out some marketing shortcoming, but the experience of doing it on our own has taught us many a lesson.
However, the second part of the question is quite true. We realised that there were hundreds of people out there in the market trying to sell our programmes and, in the process, underselling the product in an effort to upstage competing sellers (for shows on DD itself and on other TV channels). So we decided to do our own marketing and that is showing results.
First of all, most marketing agencies led us up the garden path and later found all sorts of excuses for not paying us our due. I would not like to take names, but there have been some big names involved. We are still in the process of getting back monies owed to us from marketing agencies.

Do you foresee in-house marketing initiatives bearing fruit this financial year (ending March 2006) or would the results start reflecting from next year?Oh, yes! The marketing and programming initiatives are bearing fruit as are other strategies to tap other sources of revenue. We have been doing quite well this financial year (April-March) and expect to close our books in March 2006 with Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion) in total revenue. End October figures tell me that we have mopped up revenues worth about Rs 600 crore (Rs 6 billion).(In the FY 2004-05 fiscal, Prasar Bharati raked in revenues in the region of Rs 7.88 billion. DD’s share being approximately Rs 6.53 billion and AIR’s Rs 1.35 billion.)

What are the other sources of revenue that Prasar Bharati is tapping that had not been done so far?Our marketing on the government front has got more aggressive. I made a presentation to the information and broadcasting ministry where the underlying theme was that if a government diktat says all government employees should fly (state-controlled) Indian Airlines in an effort to boost its revenues, all advertising related to the government and its agencies should be given to DD and AIR. If not all, at least 70 per cent of such ad spend should come to Prasar Bharati.
Gaining from our experience last year where we undertook big projects for some ministries like agriculture and family welfare and health, this year too we are doing so. For example, we do a project of narrowcasting for the agriculture ministry where important information related to agriculture is disseminated to farmers through our terrestrial low-powered transmitters. This DD and AIR project, worth Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion), was important for the ministry as India is primarily an agrarian economy.


From broadcasting to narrowcasting is quite a way traveled. How much do such activities contribute to the coffers of the world’s largest public broadcaster?We are in the process of concluding deals with the ministries of science & technology, human resources development and environment. While these ministries have huge funds for such activities, Prasar Bharati has the reach through its TV and radio networks. The combination works well.
I would imagine that government and government department-related work should contribute at least Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) this financial year, signifying an upswing from last year.

Revenue generation seems to be the latest mantra in Prasar Bharati. Is that why the organization lobbied hard with the government to have laws favouring it where sports content, especially cricket, is concerned?Why not? Prasar Bharati’s reach amongst the masses, which is the target for the government, is maximum amongst all broadcasters present in India. And, what’s the big issue with cricket? That cricket is a big revenue earner for us is a big misconception. Moreover, the laws that you are referring to have been enacted by the government so that a huge chunk of the population that does not have access to cable and satellite TV gets to see quality sports, which may include cricket.

You seem to be deliberately downplaying the cricket aspect. Why this sudden aversion to cricket?As I said, there’s a misconception about cricket on DD. Let me give you an example. In the four years (up to 2004) that DD had the telecast rights to domestic cricket, it invested approximately Rs 400 crore (Rs 4 billion) in rights fee and production and other sundry costs. At the end of four years, DD’s net returns were just Rs 600 million. From the present one-day cricket series against Sri Lanka and South Africa, DD’s net gains will be approximately Rs 350 million after paying the rights fee. So, what’s the big deal about cricket?
However, cricket helps DD in retaining viewership for other programmes. The chances of a viewer sticking around after a cricket match to check out the programme following it, is high. Feedback from TAM has indicated this and we are trying to capitalize on this.

Such pathetic returns from cricket has been due to inefficient or manipulated marketing of events. Moreover, new media laws will get Prasar Bharati cricket matches at nominal cost. Your comments.When did I say we haven’t suffered from outsourcing marketing to other agencies? That’s why, we have taken to marketing all programmes on DD in-house. Still, as we are on the learning curve, give us some more time to sharpen our marketing skills.As far as going out and bidding for cricket is concerned, there are so many restrictions on Prasar Bharati that it becomes difficult to behave in way as a private sector channel. Every paise that we spend is scrutinized by various agencies.

Tell us about some other initiatives that Prasar Bharati is undertaking.We hope to launch by early January (target is New Year’s Day) in Chennai and Delhi news on mobile vehicles as part of our digital terrestrial transmission move. Later, we plan to take this unique service to Mumbai and Kolkata.Then, as we complete digitalization of our libraries and the transmission process, we’ll have some surplus infrastructure to rent to others. For instance, private FM radio players would be using Prasar Bharati transmission towers for co-locating their own transmitters in various cities.
We are also in the process of introducing scrolling advertisements on our local transmitters for region-specific channels that’ll compete with cable operators’ video channels very effectively.

Has the proposal to make forays in other countries been nixed by the government?We have concluded deals with distributors in the US for four DD channels --- DD India (the international channel), DD News, DD Punjabi and DD Bengali --- for a period of five years. The channels will be distributed on the EchoStar platform. Prasar Bharati gets $ 3 million for DD India, $ 2 million for DD News, $ 1 million for DD Punjabi and $ 300,000 for the Bengali channel. Two radio channels too will be distributed in the US.
We are also in the process of floating tenders for distribution rights in places like Canada and the Middle East. In the future, we’ll increase the number of channels to places like the US.
The finance ministry, however, hasn’t cleared our proposal to enter the UK on the BSkyB platform. I would say, the issue is in the melting pot still.


How’s the DTH service is doing and are there any plans to book separate ads for channels on DD Direct + platform?On last count, five million boxes of DD Direct+ have been sold by various box manufacturers. Though our target is to reach 10 million households by December 2006, which is a decent number of subscribers, there are no plans at present to separately sell airtime for DD channels on the DTH platform.
AIR has always been the unsung sibling of DD. How’s it doing?Not bad at all. AIR is expected to cross the Rs 200 crore (Rs 2 billion) mark this year in terms of revenue.

Do you think the strident employees’ unions of Prasar Bharati will allow a proposed financial restructuring of the organization?The restructuring will be good for the organisation and the employees' unions (that had petitioned the Prime Minister earlier this year to dismantle Prasar Bharati's existing autonomous structure) too is supporting the move now. They were afraid of their salaries and perks, but have realized a restructuring will make Prasar Bharati fighting fit, allowing it also to tap the capital market and other institutions for funds.

What are the other benefits of the financial restructuring of Prasar Bharati being proposed by the government?First and foremost, such a restructuring enables an organization to tap the various sources of funds as government backing would lessen over a period of time as part of recommendations made in the 10th Five-Year Plan, which is likely to be included in the next Plan period also.
The restructuring will also help Prasar Bharati go public if the need be. But don’t ask me how and when because such issues can only be addressed when the time comes.

As you near the end of your tenure as the CEO of Prasar Bharati in July 2006 having reached the age limit of 62 years, how would you term your four-year stint?An eventful one. There have been ups and downs, but it has been challenging to work in Prasar Bharati, an organization with great potential, but limitations also. I have tried in my own little way in contributing towards the organisation’s betterment.
(As the CEO, Sarma has worked with four I&B ministers, while the tally goes up to eight if one takes into account his long tenure as a bureaucrat having served in various capacities in the I&B ministry, amongst others.)
Lastly, do you think that Prasar Bharati can ever make profit and be in the black?I certainly do. Over the next five years or so, Prasar Bharati has the potential of becoming a profitable organization, if managed professionally. After all, BBC did not become what it is today in one day and even there the British government has a lot of say in the running of its affairs.

Pictures by SANJAY SHARMA/Indiapix Network
http://www.indiantelevision.com/interviews/y2k5/executive/ks_sarma.htm

Sunday, November 13, 2005

AIRs 24X7 Music Channel from Trichy and Lucknow Hyderabad

A 24-hour channel in Hindustani and Carnatic Music will be launched shortly by All India Radio (AIR), which also plans concerts at prominent open public places to popularise classical music in the country. Lucknow for Hindustani classical and Trichy for Carnatic music would be the hub of the 24X7 music channels, which would be launched ''anytime'', AIR Deputy Director General (South Zone) G Jayalal told the media here today. AIR, in collaboration with the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, proposed to hold classical music concerts at public gardens and prominent open spaces, for which the Prasar Bharati (PB) Board had given its consent recently. Flanked by Hyderabad Station Director Dr Gopalakrishna and Programmer Ms Vedavathi, AIR's Southern Chief said Archives (South) would release on November 13 Audio Cassettes and Audio Compact Discs of four popular Telugu plays. The plays - ''Kanyasulkam'', the all time socially relevant play by Gurajada Appa Rao, ''Varavikrayam'', another play on dowry written by Kallakuri Narayan Rao, ''Ganapathi'' rated as the best literary comedy by Chilakamarthi Laxminarasimham Panthulu and ''Pandavudyoga Vijayalu'', penned by Tirupathi Venkata Kavulu - would be released on the occasion of ''Broadcasting Day''. Union Information Minister S Jaipal Reddy and K S Sarma, the CEO of PB, would be present on the occasion. The event would be recorded due to the national mourning and relayed by Akashvani Centres from December 17 to January 23,
[November 13, 2005 1:36:03 AM IST 2006]
http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=160754&cat=India
---------------------------- Alokesh Gupta New Delhi, India.

The first majorpodcasting convention to be held in the US


Podcasts are changing the content of radio

Hundreds of podcasters from 22 countries have gathered at the Portable MediaExpo and Podcasting Conference in Ontario, California, for the first majorpodcasting convention to be held in the US.It is a mark of how mainstream podcasting is becoming world-wide that one ofthe attendees from the UK, Ewan Spence, is nominated for a Scottish Baftafor his series of podcasts from the Edinburgh festival.But does podcasting spell the death of radio?The answer that seems to be emerging from this conference is that it dependson the type of radio in question.Adam Curry, widely credited as the "podfather" for his part in thedevelopment of podcasting, has attracted millions of dollars in venturecapital funding for his Podshow and Podsafe Music Network businesses.But he is convinced there remains space for traditional radio, particularlyin the sphere of news."If we find Osama Bin Laden, don't go running to the iPod - you'll beseverely disappointed," Mr Curry told the BBC.News radio is somewhat insulated from the effect of podcasting by the needto cover major events live. But many feel podcasting is challengingcomplacent broadcasters, who have allowed quality and audiences to decline.Leo Laporte, a talk radio host in Los Angeles and the creator of the hitpodcast This Week in Tech, thinks podcasters are changing radio for thebetter."Radio has been moribund for a couple decades, podcasting is reviving thisart of radio - it's a complete renaissance."One aspect of this renaissance is "narrowcasting" or "microcasting" -broadcasts targeted at niche audiences.It is radio that focuses on particular interest groups. Examples include"The Mommycast: a podcast for mommies everywhere", or "The Good Beer Show",which offers reviews of micro-brewed beer hosted from a tavern in Indiana."We're talking about a million different niches," said JD Lassica, a pioneerin the field of citizen-produced media.Many at the conference predict the greatest effect of podcasting ontraditional radio will be in music broadcasting.Given copyright restrictions, podcast music shows are limited to so-called"podsafe music", where the musicians publish under licences that allowinternet downloading.Most bands that produce "podsafe music" are unsigned bands, independent ofthe major record labels.Mr Curry, a former MTV presenter, believes that is bad news for the majorrecord labels."The end result will be that podcast music is going to route around theentire [music] industry," he said."The music business itself is heading for a meltdown because all the toolsare available for any artist to sell directly to the consumer."But there are signs that traditional broadcasters are waking up to podsafemusic.At the recent Pod Con UK conference held in London, Virgin Radio announcedthat it would be including podsafe music in some of its podcasts.As podcasting changes the content of radio, the way we listen to radio ischanging too.Tech-geeks like to speak of "convergence", of the coming together of thedifferent ways to listen to radio as broadband and wireless technologybecome more prevalent.There are already mobile phones that enable you to download podcasts - ineffect, turning your phone into a radio tuner - that has the money-meninterested."We think there's a huge a market, that will allow podcasting to be extendedto the 2bn wireless phones across the world today," Adrian Smith of VentureCapital firm Ignition Partners said."In a pretty short number of years ring-tones have become a hugemulti-billion dollar market and that suggests podcasting could be a verylarge market indeed."Despite the emphasis on new technologies and ways of making money frompodcasts, there is broad agreement that the key to success in podcasting andin traditional radio is the same.As Mr Curry says, however clever the technology, "you need this wonderful piece in the middle which is the guy talking about something he's passionateabout". [By Chris VallanceBBC News, Ontario, California]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4432464.stm

Sony ICFSW7600GR on ebay.in for Rs. 8000


Check these links for Sony ICF7600GR on ebay.in :

Features
FM/LW/MW/SW Multi-Band Reception
PLL Synthesizer Tuner
100-Station Memory Presets
4-Way-Tuning (Direct / Auto Scan /
Manual /Station Memory Preset)
Sleep Function
Dual Clock (World\ Local)
190x118.8x35.3 mm-Dimensions (w/h/d)
608 (including batteries)-Wt. (g)

Available for Rs.8000http://cgi.ebay.in/Sony-ICFSW7600GR-Digital-Tuning-World-Band-Receiver_W0QQitemZ5828061204QQcategoryZ15051QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A Gurgaon based seller is offering for Rs 9990http://cgi.ebay.in/Sony-ICF-SW7600GR-AM-FM-Shortwave-World-Band-Receiver_W0QQitemZ5827976590QQcategoryZ294QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A mumbai based seller offering for Rs 11275http://cgi.ebay.in/New-Sony-FM-World-Band-Receiver-Radio-ICF-SW7600GR_W0QQitemZ5829792008QQcategoryZ15051QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Sony India website still lists at Rs.14999http://www.sonyindia.co.in/sonyindia/products/DisplayProduct.jsp?modelNumber=ICF-SW7600GR

-Alokesh GuptaNew Delhi, India.

Prasar out of tune: 100 stations run without directors


Almost 100 All India Radio (AIR) stations are currentlyrunning without a station director even as over 200 eligible AIR officialsawait promotions because of non-existent recruitment and promotion policies.While ministry of information and broadcasting continues to fund PrasarBharti, it has no role in matters related to promotions and recruitment,sources said.In the programme cadre, the recruitment process stopped in 1991 once thePrasar Bharti Act was formulated. There have not been any recruitments orpromotions since then.There are 219 AIR stations in India out of which over 100 are run by lowergrade employees, who also look after administration. "Because there are noclear guidelines for recruitment and promotions, we are serving at lowerranks and we are not motivated to work now," said an official who has beenon the same post for 20 years.In all, there are about 52,000 employees on the rolls, of which almost 3,000employees are retiring each year only to be hired again. "Because of this,we have 70-year-olds working in newsrooms of AIR on late night shifts. Someof them cannot walk properly," sources added.The programme staff association of AIR and DD says the matter is lined upfor hearing in Supreme Court but since Prasar Bharti is not interested, itkeeps taking time from the court
[ASHISH SINHAPosted online: Monday, November 14, 2005 at 0000 hours ISTNEW DELHI, NOV 13: .http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=108503]
-------------------Alokesh GuptaNew Delhi, India.