New AIR programmes for visually impaired

In chasing revenues, Doordarshan may have dropped its public service broadcaster mantle, but this is not the case with ‘‘poor cous...

In chasing revenues, Doordarshan may have dropped its public service broadcaster mantle, but this is not the case with ‘‘poor cousin’’ All India Radio (AIR).

Taking its duties of a public service broadcaster seriously, AIR has launched programmes for the visually impaired.

Prasar Bharti’s DTH to begin by March next year

NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharti’s ambitious project to provide television coverage to remote areas via Direct To Home (DTH) service is expected to begin only by March next year since the earth stations needed for the purpose are in the process of being set up.

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‘‘DTH services of Prasar Bharti will not begin before March next year. The earth stations needed for such a transmission will take that much time to become operational,’’ sources said here today.
With Star’s DTH foray on the backburner, pending its alliance with an Indian company to fufill foreign investment cap guidelines, Zee is the only group which is offering this service at present. (PTI)

‘‘With more than half the world’s visually impaired people living in India, and with no programmes for them, we decided to focus on special programmes for this segment of the population,’’ AIR officials said.

Taking a cue from the Community Radio Services in Australia, where programmes for the visually impaired are broadcast for eight hours daily, AIR’s half-hour programme, broadcast twice on Indraprastha Channel Drishti in magazine format, is interactive. ‘‘The listeners can send in stories and play in braille and we will produce these for them,’’ said officials.

Current affairs, safety tips, employment and health are some issues discussed in the half-hour programme. AIR is looking at even reading aloud plays and book reviews that are out in braille. ‘‘While the Australian programmes have a dedicated listenership, we have just begun,’’ the officials said.

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Other kendras of AIR are free to broadcast the programmes aired by Delhi. Already, say officials, NGOs are showing interest in associating themselves with the programme.

DD also does its bit — there is a news segment for the hearing impaired on weekends. But that is only one programme, which holds no promise for improvisation.

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