The Hindu Business Line : JGI FM radio service to start broadcast in Bangalore

Bangalore June 25 Community radio station on FM band could see itself making commercial broadcast apart from the domain specific information relating to education, health, social and hygiene awareness programmers.

More than 20 stations have started operating with the Jain Group of Institutions (JGI), Bangalore, joining the 24-hour community radio channel clan. Anna Universtiy in Tamil Nadu was the first to start the service. The state has the largest number of 11 stations.

Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Kerala have been broadcasting programmes focused on community issues.

JGI's service will start its broadcast from tonight. Seven other institutions in the city, including the Bangalore University and National School of Law University, have been given letters of intent.

More than 140 institutions and non-governmental organisations have applied for starting the community radio station. Only a fifth have been granted licence so far.

Commercial broadcast

According to Mr R. Sreedher, Director, Commonwealth of Learning, Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia, after an initial objection, the Government has agreed in principle to allow the institutions to air five minutes of commercial broadcast. He said this would help them attain financial viability. However, the exact content specifications of commercials would be defined soon.

Mr Sreedher said the community channels have also been allowed to air entertainment programmes like Bollywood film songs.

Mr R. Chenraj Jain, Chairman of JGI, told media persons that JGI's FM frequency 107.8 will initially broadcast programme for four hours to be extended to 24 hours soon.

The Department of Science and Technology will also provide contents to the station for creating awareness among women on issues of education and health.

More Stories on : Radio/TV | Rural Development | Karnataka

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