As TV is seen as the new age medium and radio a thing of the past, the crackle of the medium wave doesn’t quite click with anyone as a viable means of communication in the age of the Youtube. But do a quick reality check on the advantages that, say, FM radio has over TV.

The National Readership Survey in the past, has recorded print figures overall as being just about equal to radio. But with just 23 FM radio stations (and that too, with no great content variation — it is all Contemporary Hits Radio — CHR, as the jargon goes) the figures have crept up, with radio beating print, coming close to figures you would expect for a vast country with high illiteracy rates. In other developed media markets too, the same trend has been noted — as TV turns into an evening medium. For mornings, busy city residents switch to radio for news and other information.

Radio was privatised in 2000 — the attempt was partial and lopsided. Stations/frequencies were auctioned, and the government made money. There was no attempt to enable a better and useful use of radio for educational purposes, or ensuring connectivity to potential disaster areas. Private stations were deemed unfit to broadcast anything other than entertainment, and even the FM stations sanctioned in the next phase were expected to stay out of any kind of news broadcasts. Since 2002, an attempt to start community radio — narrowcasting over small range — was discussed, but disallowed. But even after the cabinet cleared community radio on November 16 last year, there is little transparency, and almost all those interested complain that there is no procedural clarity.

... contd.