The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : AIR to launch direct-to-home satellite service soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 19, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

AIR to launch direct-to-home satellite service soon

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, OCT. 18. The All India Radio will soon launch a direct-to-home (DTH) satellite service that will provide 30 television and 19 audio channels with high quality reception.

Talking to presspersons here today, the AIR (Madurai) Station Engineer, C. Mookan, said the DTH facility, being tested now, would not only cover the entire nation but also some neighbouring countries. The DTH platform of the Doordarshan at Todapur in New Delhi would be used to uplink the 24-hour service.

The service would be accessible on the television by installing a set-top-box, or a digital video broadcasting receiver, costing Rs. 3,000. "But for the cost of installation, there is no recurring expenditure, and the subscribers can view 17 private channels. The 13 Doordarshan channels will include news, entertainment and regional programmes. The facility is likely to be commissioned by the end of November." Mr. Mookan said the DTH technology worked on a KU Band (14/12 GHz) mechanism, which was superior to the frequency used by cable TV operators. The chief advantage was that viewers in all corners of the country could view national and regional programmes of their choice round the clock.

As far as the regional radio channel (Tamil) was concerned, stations in Tamil Nadu would contribute programmes. "The movie songs broadcast by the AIR Madurai station has been chosen for the 7.45 a.m. to 8.15 a.m. slot." The other regional audio channels would have programmes drawn from the local AIR stations. The idea was to bring all TV and radio programmes, including the private ones, under one roof and make them accessible and affordable to the common man.

Madurai FM radio soon

Mr. Mookan said the Madurai Frequency Modulation (FM) radio channel would be commissioned by March.

Though the proposal approved was for installation of a 10 KV transmitter, a 1 KV transmitter would be commissioned with a radius (coverage) of 16 km. An exclusive studio was also coming up for producing FM programmes in Madurai. The equipment (set-top box) was already available in the market.

Local news coverage

The Station Director, Ilasai Sundaram, said a local news programme, covering eight districts, including Madurai, Dindigul, Virudhunagar and Theni, was introduced recently. The five-minute programme would be broadcast at 7.25 a.m. and 6.40 p.m. "We want to focus on local news with an emphasis on development issues."

Mr. Sundaram said the AIR was committed to promoting folk arts, farming, health aspects and rural-based programmes. "We are introducing new programmes of commercial value without comprising on our standards. Earlier, listeners used to call us for their favourite songs, now we plan to meet or call them," he said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

AIR to launch direct-to-home satellite service soon

Housing Board urged to properly implement GO

Increase in `tatkal' reservation charges assailed

`Create confidence among students'

Violation of norms in skating rink construction denied

Bonus sought for TWAD Board employees

15-year jail for van driver in heroin case

Youth held for snatching of chain

Exam schedule on Internet

In Madurai Today