NEW DELHI (PTI): India is planning to beef up the external services of All India Radio(AIR) to face the mounting challenge from foreign broadcasting organizations.
AS part of this strategy, location of relay transmitters in some friendly countries of India is being considered to strengthen the coverage of external services even to listeners as far as in countries in the Pacific Ocean and Oceania, according to office sources here,
The capacity of the external network is also being augmented through installation of four shortwave transmitters of 250 kw each and two of 500 km each during the eighth plan (1992-97), the sources said,
The challenge posed by foreign broadcasting organizations is increasing with the introduction of 500 kw transmitters for their external services using multiple frequencies for a single service.
It was essential that ATR has transmitters of matching power which could overcome interference to its external programs, sources said short wave transmitters of 500 km supporting the external services.
Currently, AIR broadcasts ap= proximately 75 hours of program daily in23 foreign languages for listeners in different parts of the globe.
The mandate of the external broadcasts is to project the Indian’ point of view on world affairs: and to acquaint the overseas: listeners with developments in the country.
The expansion ’of AIR transmission in border areas was receiving Serious attention of the government.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 17, 1992
