Air Time - Ads - Govt keen to put Community Radios at par with TV, says Minister
Published: May 23, 2020
NEW DELHI, MAY 23, 2020: UNION Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar, yesterday said that he was eager to raise air time for advertisements to 12 minutes from 7 minutes on Community Radios currently to bring them at par with TV channels. The Minister was addressing listeners of all Community Radio stations in a unique initiative by way of a simultaneous broadcast.
Mr Javadekar said that while 75% of the expenditure during setting-up of Community Radio stations is borne by the Ministry and that comprises a major expenditure, daily operations' expenditure is borne by the Station. The Minister pointed out that currently Community Radio stations are allowed air time of 7 minutes per hour for advertisements while the same is 12 minutes for TV channels. He added he was eager to give equal time to all radio stations so that there is no need for them to seek funds and that local advertisements can be relayed more on community stations.
In his opening remarks, the Minister said Community Radio is a community in itself. Terming them ‘agents of change', he said that the stations reach out to millions of people every day, and that the Ministry will come out with a plan to increase the number of such Stations soon.
