NEW DELHI: Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) found a major place in the annual BES Expo organised this week by the Broadcast Engineering Society (India).
Apart from digitisation of radio as a game changer, discussions were also held on terrestrial Broadcasting – New concepts and competition; Indian Industry – Readiness to meet the challenge; and Disasters – Broadcast systems for information dissemination.
This year, the theme of the conference which is ending tomorrow is: “Future Media Ecosystem – Opportunities and Challenges for Broadcasters.”
Broadcasting is playing a vital role in the country. Digitisation is opening new vistas for all the stakeholders. Content is now available on many types of devices for access anytime anywhere.
Terrestrial broadcasts of radio and TV are being digitised and the Indian Industry needs to be ready to meet the challenge and the demand.
The DRM Consortium participated in a big way at the conference and at the Exhibition as well, where its members made presentations/demos and displayed their latest equipment and solutions. DRM Consortium members have set up a stall and are also taking part in the 20th International Conference. Consortium members, Ampegon (stand 79), Digidia (stand 94), Nautel (stand 74-75) and RFmondial were present, apart from Mr Yogendra Pal, Honorary Chairman of the DRM India Chapter.
The adoption of digital technology in broadcasting provides the listener with enhanced audio quality, service reliability and many additional features.
Following the Government’s decision to adopt the digital mode of transmission, All India Radio (AIR) has begun a phased programme to switch from analogue to digital broadcasting with the target for complete digitisation by 2017. The digital technology adopted is DRM – an open, all-band, global standard with a number of operating modes designed for both AM and VHF broadcast bands. AIR has already begun DRM transmissions of some of its international services and is currently testing and broadcasting some of its domestic output.
The DRM system offers many benefits to listeners, manufacturers, broadcasters and regulators including improved audio quality, added data services, emergency warning alerts, targeted advertising and a more efficient transmission system that lowers power costs.
BES (1) is a professional body with the main objective of promoting the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in Radio and TV broadcasting. It supports education, research and training within the broadcast engineering profession at national and international forums, cooperating with leading broadcast organisations worldwide. The Society has always been at the forefront as a facilitator, bringing together experts in various fields of broadcasting who pioneer the new technologies and chalk out the future path.
The Expo is one of the biggest events in the field of broadcasting and is held annually in New Delhi. The event is supported by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and other leading media organisations.