Prasar Bharti to push its radio services online

State-run broadcaster Prasar Bharati is trying to expand its online presence, its chief executive officer Jawhar Sircar said in Kolkata on Friday.

Referring to young people's increasing use of the internet, he pointed out that if Vividh Bharati [the radio arm] had an online presence its reach would widen.

''These days the youth are listening to everything on the internet. If Vividh Bharati goes online then listeners from California to Vancouver will be able to listen to it. We are currently conducting an experiment in this regard,'' Sircar said.

He was in Kolkata to launch Prasar Bhararti's Vividh Bharati service on FM in the city.

Pointing out that the FM channel would also be accessible on cell phones, Sircar said, ''The government of India is very keen on mobile FM - we call it the democratisation of radio reach.''

Asked about the potential of digital radio in Kolkata, he said that it would take some time for digital radio to become popular due to the small availability of radio sets.

On the issue of offering long-term contracts to the casual staff of Prasar Bharati, he pointed out that if a casual staff had ''good performance he or she will be offered long term contractual assignment.''

On radio jockeys, he said, ''They only do radio assignments. There is no question of permanent absorption for them.''

In August, Prasar Bharati had dropped 100 anchors working for the organisation for the last 19 years from its weekly anchoring rota as they were over the age limit of 30 fixed for radio jockeys.