World Music... (Do Ya Dig Digital?)

For urban listeners, this new frontier of broadcasting means crystal-clear, digital quality sound which doesn’t vary with the weather. But the most crucial improvement is in the terms of choice. Besides Worldspace’s own pool of channels, listeners also have access to broadcasters like bbc, cnn and Bloomberg. The Indian channels on board include Khanak, Sunrise, Radio Mid-Day and RM Radio from the Asianet group. "We will offer consumers in India a diversity of news, music and entertainment programming they simply cannot get through any other medium," promises M. Sebastian, director, business development, WorldSpace Corporation.

DTR is a new medium of radio transmission that harnesses satellite and digital technology. For broadcasters it opens up one more mode of delivery and distribution. As to how a dtr radio works, it is all to do with satellites broadcasting audio signals directly to small, portable receivers. Four leading electronics manufacturers—Hitachi, jvc, Panasonic and Sanyo—have designed and manufactured the special receivers needed to get the service and are available at some of the leading electronics goods dealers. Being sold in the country under a marketing tie-up with bpl, their prices range from Rs 4,990-11,990. Which brings us to the crucial question: will it work in the Indian market? Who will buy such an expensive equipment when the favoured medium of the middle class, the idiot box, is available in roughly the same price range?