All India Radio to start 24-hour News Channel

     New Delhi, April 13, 2013: On the patter of the Doordarshan, the All India Radio is also considering to start a 24-hour news channel, a top official said.

     “The Central government is exploring various aspects and the technicalities involved in launching a 24-hour News Channel on All India Radio,” Information and Broadcasting Secretary Uday Kumar Varma said today

     The Information and Broadcasting Ministry was considering launching a 24-hour News Channel on AIR on the pattern of DD News, Varma said addressing a meeting in Amritsar with Punjab based Heads of various Media Units of I & B. 

     He observed that digitalization was taking place successfully and rapidly in India and expressed confidence that the digitalization of transmission signals would completely change the broadcasting scenario in the country within the next couple of years.

     Speaking about Prasar Bharati Varma said to determine and define the relations between the Government and the Prasar Bharati, an Expert Committee, under the Chairmanship of Sam Pitroda has been set up.

      He said process to fill vacancies in Prasar Bharati has already been initiated and the Central Government would fully bear the burden of salaries on all employees for the next five years, who were in AIR or DD till 2007.