The Hindu : AIR creates new category of artistes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 06, 2003

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National

AIR creates new category of artistes

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI AUG. 5. All India Radio has decided to create a new category of "national artistes" performing for it. The category will have legends from the music industry and top grade artistes, according to the Prasar Bharati CEO, K.S. Sarma.

Announcing this here today at the launch of a new postgraduate diploma course in radio broadcasting which Prasar Bharati is starting in association with the Indira Gandhi National Open University, Mr. Sarma said Prasar Bharati was planning to start a 24-hour news channel on AIR.

Also in the pipeline was a revenue-sharing initiative with BSNL and MTNL for a possible toll-free phone-in news service.

He said AIR had recorded a revenue of Rs. 45 crores — a 40 per cent increase — in the first quarter of this year as compared to last year's Rs. 27 crores.

AIR's attempt at getting a person for its top post has, however, not succeeded so far. Pointing out that the ads given out by the Prasar Bharati for the post of AIR Director-General had met with poor response, Mr. Sarma said Prasar Bharati has now decided to consider applications from the open market too.

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