Education, Careers & Professional News
Bangalore Varsity To Launch Its Own FM Station
The Bangalore University is launching its own FM radio station to train future news anchors. The station, to be christened `BU FM` will be used for imparting training to electronic media students in radio broadcasting and in the university`s distance education programme.
Announcing the move to launch the radio station, Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor MS Thimmappa said: Not only will the students get trained in news broadcast, radio jockeying and other skills, but teachers from the university and affiliated colleges could use the medium to relay distance education.
The Rs 22 lakh project would initially cover a radius of 50 km and gradually the reach would be extended further. To start with, there would be four hours of programme daily. We need to see how we can manage with a few hours and then slowly increase the time. The slots will be spread across the day, though we have not decided on the timing, Dr Thimmappa added.
The Radio Mirchis and FM 91s can breathe easy for a while because the new radio station will not give them any competition. For the time being, the radio station will not be commercially-oriented, but give prominence to academic aspects, the Vice-Chancellor stated.
The University is awaiting clearance for the new station from the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and has appealed to the Ministry to reduce the Rs 50,000 licence fee as the station would be used for beaming educational programmes.
It is learnt that the Director of the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore, Prof S Sadagopan has agreed to provide a few radio lesson modules.
The Bangalore University is also starting a post-graduate diploma course in electronic media this year as an evening programme which is also open to practicing professionals.