Radio fever takes over north India

With 25 FM stations (including some which have already been launched) expected to be fully operational by December 2007 in the northern region,( comprising Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir), the stage is set to absorb a large number of radio jockeys, voiceover artistes, scriptwriters, and technicians.

Recently, the Reliance Dhirubhai Anil Ambani Group's Adlabs Radio and Synergy Media Entertainment Ltd kicked off their FM services in Chandigarh. Radio Mirchi of Entertainment Network India Ltd, inaugurated its radio station in Jalandhar yesterday.

Apart from Chandigarh, smaller cities like Hisar, Karnal, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala would also witness the proliferation of FM radio services by private players soon.

Experts also believe that the launch of FM services in the region will give tough competition to AIR (All India Radio), Chandigarh which has been serving the northern region.

The new FM stations will include two in Chandigarh, four in Jalandhar, four in Patiala, four in Amritsar, four in Hissar, two in Karnal, three in Shimla and one each in Jammu and Srinagar. It's a win-win sitution for both the listeners and the professionals engaged in the services.

Normally, a FM station needs about 20-25 people. It is estimated that the new boom will create a demand for about 500 people in the radio industry in the region.

But, at present the industry has a scarcity of trained manpower. "We need creative people, not geniuses. We are ready to recruit people from small towns and cities also, " says Richa Sharma, station head, Synergy Media Entertainment Ltd.

In order to cater to the burgeoning demand of this new industry, about a dozen new training institutes are being a set up in the region. Speaking to Business Standard, Career Zone (Jalandhar) general manager Gurpreet Singh said," We have 25 students who are undergoing training in the radio course."

Currently, in Chandigarh alone, nearly a dozen institutes are there which impart such training. Hardeep Chandpuri, director, Take One Academy of Broadcasting, says, "There is immense demand for radio artists in the region. In order to bridge the gap between demand and supply, we are engaged in training anpower."