Indian private radio centers are now facing a shortage of skilled radio professionals. Within the next few years, more than three hundred FM radio stations will open up. I am quoting from the report published in monsters and critics.com:
“There is an acute shortage of radio professionals in the country as there are hardly any institutes giving exhaustive training for working in radio and that poses a new challenge,' said Saurabh Bhramar, national programming head of My FM.
My FM is owned by Dainik Bhaskar, one of the country's leading newspaper groups, and has licenses to launch private FM stations in 17 Indian cities. It has already launched an FM station in the Rajasthan capital Jaipur.”
Mid-Day radio station’s programming Chief, Ritu Soni also admitted that lack of trained radio professionals is a major obstacle for the growth of the FM radio stations around the country. She said that her organization, after recruiting new employees, arrange for a three months training program. New people need some time for preparing themselves to go on air. She also expressed her concern about the quality of the existing radio training institutions. These institutions only focus on theoretical part. They do not focus on practical knowledge.
Looking at the potential of the radio industry, some veteran radio persons have come forward to form the first full time radio training academy. Known as Academy of Radio Management (ARM), it would offer a one year diploma course along with various other short courses. Their program will start from this September.
Before 2000, there was not any private station in India. The first private radio station Radio city, opened up in Bangalore in 2001. Since then, there was no looking back for this industry. It observed a healthy growth. Now, India’s radio industry is a Rs. 3 billion industry. According to a research conducted by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC), by 2010, the private radio industry would enjoy a 32% growth per year and become a $270 million industry. It is a market with huge potential but lack of skilled radio workers can bring down the growth. I hope that government institutions, along with private institutions, also start various kinds of programs to build up skilled radio professionals as there are not many private institutions in the country to meet the demands.
Did India considered hiring overseas professionals. You know, like a weird radio station where the DJs or announcers are talking in Indian but the listeners find it hard to relate to their ideas. Ha-ha-ha. Sorry just joking.
Maybe they should do more promotions and media exposures regarding the great benefits of being a skilled radio professional so that people will be more encouraged and interested in being one.
Posted by: nepspeed82 | August 23, 2006 1:49 PM | Permalink to Comment